Job summary Are you a Senior Social Worker with experience working with rough sleepers or the homeless? We are seeking a dedicated and creative Senior Social Worker to join our team, focused on providing assertive outreach and tailored support to individuals facing homelessness. Key Responsibilities: Manage a smaller, targeted caseload to offer more responsive support to individuals with complex needs. Conduct outreach shifts to build relationships with clients, encouraging engagement with assessments and support. Work in-reach within homelessness support services (Pods, Nova, Salvation Army, Launchpad, YMCA) to engage clients and build partnerships, while also upskilling staff. Co-locate with rough sleeping outreach services and commissioned homelessness support teams to assess and offer tailored support to clients who struggle with traditional service models. Explore innovative ways to assess and offer ASC support, focusing on sustaining tenancies and avoiding unnecessary reliance on ASC alternatives. Ensure that assessments are not closed prematurely and help clients move away from complex lifestyles by implementing appropriate ASC interventions. Main duties of the job About the Role: This Senior Social Worker roles involves working to support individuals with complex needs, including those who are rough sleeping or residing in homelessness support services. You will be part of the Advice and Wellbeing Hub team but working in partnership with the Homelessness Teams. This role plays a crucial part in breaking the cycle of rough sleeping, where individuals are placed in 24/7 supported accommodation (such as the Pods or Salvation Army) only to be evicted due to unmanaged behaviours like hoarding, poor personal care, aggression, or mental health issues. By providing the right interventions, non-statutory commissioned services are able to manage these behaviours and support individuals in making progress towards a positive move-on, helping them sustain housing and work towards long-term stability.You will need to be based within commuting distance of Reading due to the nature of the role, which involves regular outreach, in-reach, and collaboration with local homelessness support services and housing providers. The role involves you undertaking work using the Conversation Counts model, working on prevention and early support. Using your social work expertise, you will conduct Care Act assessments, safeguarding investigations, risk assessments and Mental Capacity assessments, as well as facilitate best interest meetings. About us 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, servicing and road tax Salary sacrifice scheme for Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to help you save for your retirement. If you would like to find out more about this role please contact Caroline Marsh - Team Manager on 0118 937 3672, caroline.marshreading.gov.uk Closing date: Applications will be reviewed upon submissionInterview date: TBA Date posted 17 April 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £44,708 to £50,710 a year Contract Fixed term Duration 23 months Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number F0037-DAC0581 Job locations Civic Offices Bridge Street Reading Berkshire RG1 2LU Job description Job responsibilities Please see the attached job description and person specification for a Social Worker to find out more about the duties required. Job description Job responsibilities Please see the attached job description and person specification for a Social Worker to find out more about the duties required. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Please see the attached job description and person specification for a Social Worker to find out more about the duties required. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Please see the attached job description and person specification for a Social Worker to find out more about the duties required. Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Reading Borough Council Address Civic Offices Bridge Street Reading Berkshire RG1 2LU Employer's website https://www.reading.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)