Social Worker - Supported Living Services

Reading Borough Council; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in England seeks a motivated Social Worker for a 3-year project focused on developing the Supported Living Market. The role involves managing a diverse caseload, collaborating with healthcare providers and colleagues to improve outcomes for residents. Candidates should possess a degree in Social Work, be registered with Social Work England, and demonstrate excellent communication and influencing skills. The position offers competitive benefits and support for professional growth.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Maternity, adoption, and parental pay

Flexible working opportunities

Access to training and learning opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Salary sacrifice scheme for retirement savings

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England.
• Interest in supported living and innovation.
• Demonstrated passion for improving services.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload across supported living services.
• Collaborate with colleagues and healthcare providers.
• Contribute to team performance and positive resident outcomes.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to build relationships

Passion for improving services

Strong influencing skills

Education

Degree in Social Work

Job description

We are a Local Authority committed to serving our community and improving the lives of our residents, and we are currently seeking a motivated and talented Social Worker to join us for an exciting new 3 year project focused on developing our Supported Living Market. We’re looking for individuals with excellent communication skills and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues, service users, and healthcare providers. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the Role

You will hold a varied caseload across supported living services in and out of the Reading Borough and contribute to the team performance and positive outcomes for our residents. You will work closely with the allocated project Occupational Therapist, care providers, Housing Services, and Health colleagues, while operating within the legal framework of relevant legislation, guidance, policies, and procedures.

The Supported Living Project

We currently have around 380 people living in supported living services through accommodation-based services and community outreach. We work with around 50 providers to deliver a range of services from a few hours a week to multiple staff‑24/7 services. The project is designed to put people we support, innovation, and outcome-based support planning at the core of the services. We want to work with our supported living providers to improve outcomes for individuals and ensure that everyone in supported living have person‑centred, strengths based support plans with clear outcomes, that support the person to be as independent as they can be.

We want to work with people, their families and providers to:

• Develop tech-based options
• Ensure reablement/enablement approaches are core to services
• Evidence outcome based working is in every support plan and regularly reviewed
• Support moves on to independence (where we can)
• Ensure people are reaching their potential
• Ensure services are co‑produced with the people who live in them
• Implement the REACH standards throughout the market

About you

You will hold a degree in Social Work and be registered with Social Work England. An interest in supported living and in exploring and developing new ways of working is important, along with being open to innovation and change—both as a participant and a leader. You will demonstrate a passion for improving services for people, strong influencing skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with team members, providers, and partner organisations.

About Reading

We offer excellent support, supervision, and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new professional skills, helping you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio and supporting you to grow as a Social Worker. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

• Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.
• Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
• Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
• Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our offer

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
• Maternity, adoption, parental and sick pay.
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities.
• Access to a range of training and learning opportunities to help you develop.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance,, and road tax.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to help you save for your retirement.

Applications will be reviewed upon submission.

Interview date

To be confirmed.

Contact

If you would like to find out more about this role and the team, please contact Sandra Sheldon – Review Team – Team Manager - [e-mail] or call 07834 802 697.

Visit

Visit: www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.