Social Worker

SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL; Shrewsbury; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Shrewsbury seeks a dedicated social work professional to improve the lives of vulnerable adults. The role involves managing complex caseloads, collaborating with various organizations, and ensuring adherence to relevant legislation and policies. Candidates should be a registered Social Worker with strong advocacy skills and a commitment to continuous development. This role offers a permanent position with opportunities for part-time work, competitive benefits, and a supportive environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave of 33 days

Local Government Pension Scheme

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Registered Social Worker with relevant qualifications.
• Experience in managing complex casework and workloads.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage workload and respond to service user requests.
• Work independently and collaboratively with other agencies.
• Complete mandatory training and maintain professional standards.

Skills

Customer focused approach

Autonomous working

Team collaboration

Advocacy for vulnerable adults

Multi-agency collaboration

Education

Qualified Social Worker registration

Relevant qualifications

Job description

Overview

The Integrated Community Services within Adult Social Care at Shropshire Council seeks a dedicated social work professional to support key priorities and make a real difference to the lives of people in Shropshire.

Responsibilities

• Be responsible to the ICSTeam Manager and the relevant Lead Practitioner who will be in turn responsible for the post holder’s supervision, managing and monitoring performance and appraisal, health and safety, training, and development.
• Be responsible for managing their workload, receiving referrals, making appointments, and responding to the needs and requests of the service user as appropriate.
• Will carry out all care management duties as directed and will be responsible for acting in accordance with relevant legislation, policies and procedures and Social Work Values and registration.
• Work autonomously, in a multi-agency and disciplinary manner, with other organisational partners and colleagues to identify support available to meet clients assessed needs.
• Work amongst a team and alone, utilising hybrid working and working from multiple available work-bases.
• Work to safeguard vulnerable adults from all forms of abuse and exploitation and will adhere to the relevant policies.
• Be responsible for completing all mandatory corporate and role specific training. Training requirements will be detailed in your corporate induction and Personal Development Plan (PDP). Courses are accessed via the council Learning Management System.
• Adopt a customer focused approach when delivering your service, ensuring engagement with service users and maintenance of an appropriate personal profile.
• Act as an advocate for your service and work collaboratively with colleagues across the whole Council to meet the needs of the people of Shropshire.
• Meet individual, service and personal development targets agreed through the Personal Development Review Process, learn from experience and are committed to continuous improvement individually and as an employee of the Council.
• Work with colleagues to meet your team’s key performance indicators, support a culture of team working and ensure the team functions successfully in support of the Council’s corporate and service objectives.
• Meet the behaviours and competencies adopted by the Council in the way in which they achieve their objectives and carry out their work.
• In collaboration with other professionals make assessment of individual need and implement and monitor the agreed support plan and keep safe plan, as appropriate.
• Consider and assess Mental Capacity and co‑ordinate Best Interest decision‑making forums where appropriate. Documenting decisions and assessments accurately.
• Recognise where a Deprivation of Liberty or a restriction may be an issue. Liaise with registered providers when a referral to the DOL’s Team is appropriate.
• Contribute to the development of all aspects of the team and the service provided.
• Maintain evidence of continuing Professional Development in the agreed format.
• Coordinate the use of all resources promoting the creative and flexible use of personal budgets to meet eligible needs and accessing community services and activities.
• Signpost and advise adults about generic services they can access such as Housing, Debt Support, Job Centre Plus, other employment support, tenancy support services, advocacy services, befriending services, support and social groups and benefits advice (this list is not exhaustive).
• Maintain accurate records both manually and electronically with relevant, objective, detailed information and with accuracy in a timely manner and in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Attend meetings and act as a representative of the service as required.
• Attend and participate in team meetings, supervision and performance and appraisal and any quality assurance processes.
• Attend training sessions and contribute to team training sessions, as appropriate.
• Take part in duty systems, as required.
• Liaise with other statutory and voluntary agencies, to provide, advise, support and signposting where needed.
• Promote and advocate anti‑oppressive and anti‑discriminatory practices.
• Support colleagues to meet desired outcomes of the service, including potential need for joint work and actioning complex case work.
• Promote and complete continuing personal and professional/vocational development of self through staff development processes.
• Undertake other duties, not specifically mentioned in this Job Description.

Conditions of Service

The conditions of service are those laid down by Shropshire Council, which have been adopted and amended as necessary from those laid down by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services.

Your primary work base will be dependent upon which team you are based with, acute team and based within the hospitals. There will be a requirement to regularly work from home if working in community area teams.

Shropshire Council is proud of its achievements and is committed to delivering four key priorities outlined within the Shropshire Plan: Healthy People, Healthy Environment, Health Economy, and Healthy Organisation.

Working Hours and Availability

• The post is Permanent, for 37 hours per week; however we do offer part‑time positions within the service.
• Normal office hours are 08:45 am to 05:00 pm Monday to Thursday and 08:45 am to 04:00 pm Friday, with 40 minutes for lunch daily.
• Occasional weekend working which is Saturday and Sunday 09:00–01:00 is offered as paid time and day off in lieu.
• The post carries eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Annual leave entitlement is a pro‑rata flat rate scheme of 207 hours (28 days) annual leave plus bank holidays, with five days extra awarded to those staff with five years local government service giving an entitlement of 244 hours (33 days). Two days of an employee’s allowance (pro‑rata for part‑time staff) must be taken at Christmas for any potential Christmas closures. Employees who work in a building/service which is required to open over the Christmas period, the two days leave (pro‑rata) can be carried over into your next leave year but must be used by the end of March.

The appointment is subject to two months’ notice in writing. The appointment is subject to six months’ satisfactory probationary service during which time the notice period will be one week on either side. Smoking is not allowed in Council buildings, in Council vehicles or in any Council place of work.

It is a condition of your appointment that you provide a suitable vehicle for the performance of your duties and that this is readily available for use during normal working hours. You are entitled to claim for reimbursement of the costs of travel on council business at the rate of 45 pence per mile.

Pre‑Employment Checks

The appointment is subject to receipt of the following pre‑employment checks;

• Satisfactory employment references.
• Medical report.
• Evidence of the qualifications required for the post listed on your application form.