Social Work Assistant

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working

Pension scheme

Discounts on cafes, shops and gym

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking a Social Work Assistant to join the Home Independence Team. You will work with adults to identify needs and outcomes, developing person-centred care plans and supporting independence through risk assessment and collaborative working with families and health colleagues.

You'll have experience in Health and Social Care, strong communication, and be able to manage priorities in a busy setting. Enhanced DBS is required, and travel county-wide may be necessary.

Qualifications

• Experience in Health and Social Care or a related setting.
• Experience undertaking assessments and identifying support needs.
• Knowledge of strengths-based and person-centred approaches.
• Experience developing and reviewing care and support plans.
• Ability to undertake and manage risk assessments effectively.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and promoting wellbeing.
• Understanding of manual handling practices.
• Knowledge of the Care Act and its application in practice.
• Awareness of CQC standards and expectations for domiciliary care providers.

Responsibilities

• Undertaking strengths-based assessments and reviews based on Buckinghamshire councils Better lives framework.
• Developing and reviewing person-centred care and support plans.
• Supporting individuals to achieve identified goals and outcomes.
• Carrying out risk assessments and promoting safe practice.
• Working collaboratively with families, carers, health colleagues and partner agencies.
• Monitoring and reviewing care arrangements to ensure they remain effective and appropriate.
• Maintaining accurate records and documentation in line with organisational requirements.
• Supporting individuals to make informed choices and remain in control of decisions affecting their lives.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Digital literacy

Interpersonal skills

Risk assessment

Safeguarding knowledge

Written and verbal communication

Tools

MAR forms

Job description

As a Social Work Assistant within the Home Independence Team, you will play a key role in supporting adults who require care and support services. You will work directly with individuals to identify their needs, strengths and desired outcomes, helping them maintain or regain their independence wherever possible. Your responsibilities will include:

• Undertaking strengths-based assessments and reviews based on Buckinghamshire councils Better lives framework.
• Developing and reviewing person-centred care and support plans.
• Supporting individuals to achieve identified goals and outcomes.
• Carrying out risk assessments and promoting safe practice.
• Working collaboratively with families, carers, health colleagues and partner agencies.
• Monitoring and reviewing care arrangements to ensure they remain effective and appropriate.
• Maintaining accurate records and documentation in line with organisational requirements.
• Supporting individuals to make informed choices and remain in control of decisions affecting their lives.

Are you passionate about helping people live independently and achieve the outcomes that matter most to them? We're looking for a compassionate and motivated Social Work Assistant to join our Home Independence Team. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of adults in our community by supporting them to maximise their independence, wellbeing and quality of life. If you have experience working in Health and Social Care, enjoy building positive relationships, and thrive in a fast-paced and rewarding environment, we'd love to hear from you. We're looking for someone who is caring, proactive and committed to making a positive difference in people's lives. You will have a genuine passion for supporting vulnerable adults and promoting independence, whilst delivering a high standard of person-centred care and support.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experience working within Health and Social Care or a related setting.
• Experience undertaking assessments and identifying support needs.
• Knowledge of strengths-based and person-centred approaches.
• Experience developing and reviewing care and support plans.
• Ability to undertake and manage risk assessments effectively.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and promoting wellbeing.
• Understanding of manual handling practices.
• Experience transcribing and managing MAR (Medication Administration Record) forms.
• Knowledge of the Care Act and its application in practice.
• Awareness of CQC standards and expectations for domiciliary care providers.
• Ability to manage competing priorities within a busy and fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good IT skills and confidence using digital systems.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with clients, carers and partner organisations.

Personal Qualities

• Compassion and empathy.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Emotional resilience and professionalism.
• Strong organisational skills.
• A positive, solution-focused approach.
• Confidence in working independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to promoting dignity, choice and independence.
• A willingness to learn, develop and embrace new ways of working.

Essential Requirements

• Full UK driving licence.
• Access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• Willingness to travel county-wide as required.
• Flexibility to work alternate weekends and a shift pattern between 7:00am and 10:00pm.
• Enhanced DBS

Our vision is to deliver high-quality, person-centred services that support adults to remain safe, independent and connected to their communities.

We are committed to working alongside individuals, families, carers and partner organisations to ensure people receive the right support at the right time. We focus on recognising people's strengths, promoting choice and independence, and helping individuals achieve their personal goals and aspirations. As part of our team, you'll join a supportive and collaborative environment where learning, development and continuous improvement are valued and encouraged.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and convictions cautions
• All adult cautions and spent convictions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) guidance or Ministry of Justice (MOJ) guidance (see, in particular, the section titled 'Exceptions Order'). We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values and culture

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

We know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that's why we're working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation. From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it's important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments. We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Service Area

By joining our Home Independence Team, you'll have the opportunity to make a real impact every day. You'll be supported by experienced colleagues, receive ongoing training and development opportunities, and be part of a service that is committed to helping people to achieve the best possible outcomes. If you share our commitment to empowering people, promoting independence and making a positive difference in our communities, we would love to hear from you.

We recognise and reward you Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme to those who are eligible and have passed their probation period. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.