Vacancy Description
Are you an enthusiastic, motivated Social Worker looking to develop your skills, promote integration and independence?
West Berkshire Council has an opportunity for a full time SW England registered Social Worker to join our friendly and supportive team. We are a small Local Authority with a mixture of urban and rural communities which offers great variety and its own challenges.
You will be required to support in the safe discharges of service users from hospital through a joint Health and Social Care approach called Joint Care Pathway. You will assess or review for eligibility of long-term support in accordance with the Care Act 2014 following their discharge from hospital. You will be required to work with vulnerable individuals who are unable to make decisions in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. You will promote the rights of individuals and safeguard those who are at risk of abuse by working with the Safeguarding Team and completing S42 enquiries.
The team consists of Occupational Therapist, Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners and we work alongside health colleagues through our Joint Care Pathway. A key role within this team is to develop and maintain professional working relationships with acute and community hospitals which include Basingstoke, Swindon, Reading and West Berks Community Hospital. We have dedicated teams of workers who are assigned to these hospitals to ensure the smooth transition for the service users from hospital to home, or into a care home. We also have team members who assess service users at home in the community following a period of care under our Joint Care Pathway or following a period of support through Hospital Avoidance.
You will be required to explore all options of support and funding including Continuing Health Care and Fast Track funding. You will attend and contribute to DST's, case conferences and professional meetings as necessary. You may be required to undertake Court of Protection applications, advise on Lasting Power of Attorney and work with advice from the legal team on matters which require this.
There will be an opportunity to undertake training towards becoming a Best Interests Assessor and participate in the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards rota. There is also an opportunity to train as a Practice Educator.
West Berkshire Council offer excellent employment benefits such as:
1. Monthly professional supervision.
2. Monthly CPD activities.
3. Flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home (laptop and mobile phone provided).
4. Paid mileage
5. Reimbursement of SW England registration fees
6. Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
7. Generous Local Government pension scheme
8. Family friendly policies
9. A range of local discounts
10. Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
11. You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 29 days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Please see the West Berkshire Council website www.westberks.gov.uk for more details of these posts. Alternatively, feel free to come and visit us or contact Ann Tubbs Team Manager or Elisabete Santos, Assistant Team Manager on 01635 503173 for further details.