Social Worker

Milton Keynes City Council; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£2,000 Golden Hello

£3,000 annual retention payment

Job summary

Milton Keynes City Council is seeking a Social Worker to join the Older People\'s Assessment Team. You will manage a varied caseload, conduct strengths-based assessments and care planning, and lead safeguarding and multi-agency work to improve outcomes for older adults.

This site-based role offers dedicated support, opportunities for professional development and a clear pathway to enhance service delivery within Adult Services. Interviews are scheduled for 13 October 2026.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
• Demonstrable social work experience in adult services.
• Strong knowledge of Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Ability to assess risk and make professional decisions.
• Excellent communication with residents, families and partners.
• Commitment to values of dedication, respect and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of adults with complex needs.
• Complete strengths-based assessments and care planning.
• Lead high-risk and complex cases including safeguarding.
• Work with individuals, families and partner organisations.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation.
• Participate in supervision and reflective practice.

Skills

Strong communication

Risk assessment

Interagency collaboration

Professional development

Education

Social Work degree

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

Job Introduction

We're recruiting a Social Worker to join our Older People's Assessment Team at Milton Keynes City Council.

Our Adult Social Care teams play a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community, helping them to remain safe, independent and connected to the people and places that matter most to them.

Older People's Assessment Team is experiencing sustained high demand, with increasing referral volume placing significant pressure on its capacity to complete assessments, reviews and interventions within expected timescales.

This aligns with the Care Quality Commission identified need for waiting times improvement and means that recruiting to this post is essential to help the team meet its statutory duties under the Care Act 2014.

By joining us, you'll help ensure older adults can access timely advice, support and interventions at the earliest opportunity, improving outcomes, customer satisfaction and the overall experience of people who rely on our services.

This role will help reduce waiting lists, support earlier intervention, strengthen safeguarding responses and provide additional capacity to a dedicated team managing complex and demanding caseloads.

For eligible candidates, this role attracts a range of additional payments.

£2,000 Golden Hello and £3,000 annual retention payment

All payments are subject to eligibility criteria and the relevant terms and conditions.

At Milton Keynes Adult Social Care Services, we take pride in our supportive work culture and try to go that extra mile when it comes to investing in our colleagues.

Hear directly from our social workers - Social Workers' testimonials

Discover careers in Adult Social Care at Milton Keynes City Council - Social Work Careers in Adult Services

Site-Based role

This is a Site-Based role, and you'll be expected to work from the designated workplace.

Interviews for this role will be held on 13th October 2026

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We're dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.

We take pride in our supportive work culture and try to go that extra mile when it comes to investing in our colleagues.

Main Responsibility

• Manage a varied caseload involving adults with complex needs, risks and circumstances.
• Complete strengths-based assessments, reviews and care planning in line with the Care Act 2014.
• Lead and coordinate high-risk and complex cases, including safeguarding enquiries under Section 42.
• Work with individuals, families, carers and partner organisations to achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records, reports and documentation within agreed timescales.
• Participate in supervision, professional development activities and reflective practice to continuously enhance service delivery.

The Ideal Candidate

• Social Work qualification (DipSW, CQSW, Degree in Social Work or equivalent) and current registration with Social Work England.
• Demonstrable social work experience and a commitment to ongoing continuing professional development.
• Strong knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, associated codes of practice and relevant safeguarding responsibilities.
• Ability to assess risk, make professional decisions and manage competing priorities within a busy service.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build positive relationships with residents, families, colleagues and partner organisations.
• Committed to working in line with our values of being Dedicated, Respectful and Collaborative while supporting equality, diversity and inclusion.

Safer Recruitment

Safer Recruitment applies to this role. This means that, before any appointment is confirmed, we'll carry out a range of pre-employment checks to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults. These checks may include identity verification, where candidates will be required to provide original identification documents, including a full birth certificate, employment history and reference checks, qualification checks and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, (unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service). check where required.

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us?

Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

Our roles are either designated 'site based' or 'home based'. 'Site based' roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst 'home based' roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. Milton Keynes City Council is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We actively encourage applications from candidates who bring a range of perspectives, particularly those from underrepresented groups.

We are proud to have signed up to the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC-WRES), a continuous improvement programme designed to help social care organisations achieve anti-racist workplaces. Our commitment means we are actively working to identify and address inequalities, improve representation in leadership, and ensure fair treatment and opportunity for all colleagues in Adult Services. [skillsforcare.org.uk]

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it's time for a new role.