Social Care Assessor - 37 Hours

TORBAY COUNCIL; Torquay; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Torbay Council is seeking a Social Care Assessor to join the Adult Social Care teams on a permanent, full‑time basis. You will work directly with adults, families and carers to understand needs, contribute to assessments, care planning and reviews, and help arrange cost‑effective services.

This role offers opportunities to develop strengths‑based practice and work within a supportive team. You will need to communicate clearly, maintain accurate records, and be comfortable using digital systems.

Qualifications

• Experience working within adult social care.
• GCSE passes at Grade C or above or equivalent.
• NVQ level 3 or recent NHS Band 5 post (or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Undertake social care assessments and contribute to care planning and reviews.
• Gather information from adults, families and carers.
• Review services to ensure care remains appropriate and cost‑effective.
• Signpost to community resources and preventative services.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication skills

Information gathering

Risk awareness

Workload management

Education

GCSEs (C or above)

NVQ Level 3 / NHS Band 5 equivalent

Job description

Social Care Assessor - 37 Hours

Application Deadline: 29 November 2026

Department: Adults & Community Services

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Torbay Council

Reporting To: Team Manager

Compensation: £32,578 - £35,570 / year

Description

Job Description & Person Specification >

Help people in Torbay live independently, safely and with the right support around them.

Torbay Council is looking to appoint Social Care Assessors to join our Adult Social Care teams. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to join adult social care and develop their skills and make a real difference to people’s lives.

As a Social Care Assessor, you will work directly with adults, their families and carers to understand what matters to them and what support they may need. Working under the direction and supervision of a Social Worker or Team Manager, you will contribute to assessments, care and support planning and reviews, helping people achieve their outcomes and remain as independent as possible.

You will gather information, talk with individuals and those important to them, and help identify people’s strengths, needs and available support. You will contribute to strengths-based and outcome-focused care and support plans and, within your delegated responsibilities, help arrange and review services to make sure they remain appropriate and cost-effective.

An important part of the role is helping people understand the options available to them. You will provide information, advice and signposting to community resources, preventative services and other forms of support. You will also work alongside colleagues in health, housing, voluntary and community organisations and other services to help provide coordinated support.

You may work with people experiencing a range of health, social care and mental health needs. You will need to recognise where risks, safeguarding concerns or increasing complexity require further support and know when to seek advice or escalate matters to a Social Worker or Team Manager.

We are looking for people who can communicate well, build positive relationships and organise their work effectively. You will need to be comfortable using digital systems and keeping clear and accurate records. Just as importantly, you will be willing to learn, use supervision positively and continue developing your knowledge and skills.

Previous experience of undertaking social care assessments or arranging and reviewing care packages would be an advantage, but this is not essential. The person specification requires experience or a good understanding of working within adult social care, alongside evidence of learning through education, training and experience.

This role offers an opportunity to build your experience within Adult Social Care, working as part of a supportive team while developing your confidence in assessment, care planning, review and strengths-based practice.

We are looking for motivated, flexible and collaborative people who share our commitment to helping adults in Torbay live good lives.

We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment that values diversity and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

A great time to join Adult Social Care in Torbay

In Torbay, we are entering an important and positive period of change for Adult Social Care. As part of the planned conclusion of the Section 75 partnership agreement, services currently delivered by South Devon and Torbay NHS Foundation Trust will transfer back to Torbay Council in April next year.

As we move towards this transition, all new and existing social care roles will be employed by Torbay Council. From appointment, colleagues will be part of the Council workforce, benefiting from Council terms and conditions, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme and a range of employment and wellbeing support services.

To ensure continuity of high-quality care for people who use our services, staff will initially work within South Devon and Torbay NHS Foundation Trust. This arrangement will remain in place until the full transfer of services back to the Council at the end of March next year.

This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.

For an informal chat please contact Gary Patch on 07585 982673 or [e-mail], or Sam French on 07553 864160 or [e-mail].

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 14th December 2026.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Skills

Essential:

• Ability to build respectful, professional relationships with adults, families and carers, and to communicate effectively with people who may be experiencing distress, uncertainty or change.
• Ability to use IT confidently, including standard office software and electronic record systems, with good keyboard skills and attention to accuracy.
• Ability to gather information, listen carefully and contribute to assessments and reviews in a thoughtful and organised way.
• Ability to identify concerns, risks or safeguarding issues and take appropriate action by following agreed procedures.
• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise a varied workload, in order to meet agreed timescales.

As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Knowledge

Essential:

• A good understanding of working within adult social care.
• Self-awareness of own strengths and limitations.
• Knowledge of the Care Act 2014.
• Understanding of basic human needs, emotional social and physical.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential:

• Experience or good understanding of working within adult social care.
• Evidence of consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience. GCSE passes at Grade C or above or equivalent.
• NVQ level 3 or recent experience in an NHS Band 5 post (or equivalent).