Social Worker - Best Interest Assessor

Middlesbrough Council; Middlesbrough; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Middlesbrough Council invites applications for a Social Worker - Best Interest Assessor role within the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Team. The position involves managing assessments under the Mental Capacity Act and providing mentorship in adult social care, with excellent support and career development opportunities offered.

Benefits

Generous leave entitlement

Flexible working options

Employee benefits portal including Wellbeing Programme

Electric car lease scheme

Ongoing training and development opportunities

Fantastic career progression opportunities

Staff networks run by employees

Qualifications

• Registered Social Worker with a professional registration.
• Experience as a Best Interests Assessor required.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Complete best interests assessments and provide expert advice.
• Act as a Link Worker, prioritizing urgent assessments.
• Mentor Adult Social Care staff and Social Work students.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Enthusiasm to work with vulnerable adults

Education

Professional registration with Social Work England

Post Qualifying experience as a Best Interests Assessor

Job description

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Social Worker - Best Interest Assessor, Middlesbrough

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Client:

Middlesbrough Council

Location:

Middlesbrough, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

729a0386923d

Job Views:

7

Posted:

22.06.2025

Expiry Date:

06.08.2025

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Job Description:

We have an exciting role on offer within our Access and Safeguarding as a Social Worker – Best Interest Assessor.

About Us

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly and supportive Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Team within Adult Social Care.

The Best Interests Assessor (BIA) role is fast paced and involves responding to requests for urgent and standard authorisations, completing high quality best interests assessments and offering expert advice and guidance in relation to the statutory requirements arising from the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) legal framework, its associated process and procedures.

The post holder will also be required to act as a Link Worker with Managing Authorities, offering expert advice and guidance to stakeholders and ensuring application triage is in person to assess risk and help prioritise the most urgent assessments. DoLS Team BIAs provide mentoring support to Adult Social Care staff and Social Work students in relation to the statutory requirements arising from the MCA/DoLS. The Team are passionate about protecting the human rights of the citizens of Middlesbrough and case work can be both challenging and rewarding.

Applications are invited from Registered Social Workers who have:

• A professional registration with Social Work England
• Post Qualifying experience as a Best Interests Assessor
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• An enthusiasm to work with vulnerable adults, their families, carers and advocates.

Middlesbrough Council is a supportive employer offering excellent terms of service including a blended working environment where appropriate and a generous annual leave allowance.

We offer regular supervision and training opportunities, such as Practice Educator, to support your development. New staff joining our Council can expect a warm welcome from colleagues, as well as a workplace buddy and full induction process.

At Middlesbrough Council, we truly live our values and incorporate them into everything we do.

If this is you, this may be the opportunity you are looking for!

In return we can offer

• Generous leave entitlement with an option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
• Staff networks run by our staff for our staff.
• Flexible working (dependent on job role).
• Electric car lease scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee benefits portal including Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Staff lottery.
• Travel and car parking schemes.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Fantastic career progression opportunities and lots more!

Please contact Elspeth Alexander, DoLS Manager for an informal discussion about the post on 01642 729109.

The above post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

We operative a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.