Social work vacancies

We have four Community Hubs; our Northampton Community Hub 1 covers postcodes NN1 and NN3, and Hub 2 covers NN2 and NN5. Our other two Community Hubs cover Daventry, South Northants and Towcester.

Our teams work with a wide range of individuals including older people, people with physical, sensor or cognitive impairments and people with mental health needs. We are the front door for these communities so if you are passionate about working with people to promote independence and dedicated to making a difference, then we would love to hear from you.

Moving into Adulthood is a key area of development for Adult Social Care, and this is an exciting time to join us on our journey. You will be pivotal in supporting the continued development of our pathway.

You will be working as part of the Moving into Adulthood Service, and will be aligned to adult social care teams which support adults with Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities and Mental Health conditions.

You will work with and have oversight of a range of young people with complex needs, who may also be in specialist children’s provisions, hospital settings or out of county children’s placements. They will largely range from 16 upwards, although you are likely to to be aware of them from an earlier age.

The team provides support to people from 18 years of age onwards, who have a diagnosed physical disability and or brain injury. We also work with people who have a diagnosed mental health condition (mental illness or functional mental disorder) or autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with no associated learning disability. Where people are eligible for s.117 social care we work collaboratively with them to develop plans of support that are outcome focused and aimed at maximising independence, minimising reliance on the provision of statutory care services and promoting wellbeing.

The aim of the service is to support individuals to be as independent as possible and to apply the Care Act eligibility to conversations that are strength based and focus on the outcomes they wish to achieve. The team will discuss the people they are working with at Ideal Outcome Meetings (IOM) in order to ensure that a multi-disciplinary approach is taken, focusing on reablement, strengths based and is outcome focused. The team will then complete care and support plans with people we support to outline how they hope to achieve their identified outcomes which will enable the brokerage team to source appropriate support.

During their involvement, the team ensure that due consideration is given to any complexities arising from a lack of capacity, ensuring that appropriate steps are taken to complete best interest meetings and where applicable Court of Protection proceedings. The team will also lead on safeguarding enquiries and ensure that people are appropriately safeguarded. We work closely with colleagues in health and other partner agencies to ensure people’s needs are addressed by the most appropriate service.

The Learning Disability team is made up of two localised Hubs, Northampton and South Northants. Our teams are passionate and committed to working alongside people with a Learning Disability to enable them to live their best life possible. Our teams is dynamic and with a creative culture, which seeks to connect individuals and their communities, by asking the right questions at the right time, to support people to find the right solutions.

We use a strengths-based, outcomes focussed approach engaging people in a conversational model which allows them to tell us what is important and really matters to them. This approach assists us to take timely action to support them to connect with resources that help them continue with their chosen life – either with support or independently. We are progression focussed and believe that by engaging with the individual and their support networks we can really make a difference.

The Assurance Team has responsibility for operating a duty function that ensures all safeguarding concerns, where an organisation or a paid member of staff or volunteer is the alleged source of risk, is appropriately managed using legislation to inform risk-based decision making. Carrying out Section 42 enquiries or causing these to be carried out by other organisations. Quality Assuring enquiries that organisations have been asked to complete, ensuring that identified risks are mitigated where possible and making recommendations for improvement if necessary. Providing advice and guidance on safeguarding matters to professionals and members of the public. Acting as critical friend to key partners including the local authority to improve practice.

The Team works closely with key partners such as CQC and health and social care commissioners.

The Discharge and Review Team (DART) support CHC assessments, provide expertise in relation to CHC assessments to the wider directorate, complete reviews for people in residential and nursing homes, assets below assessments and support the flow from discharge to assess placements and Specialist Care Centres.

Team Managers are required to hold a relevant professional qualification in health or care, for example social work (for example, Dip SW, CQSW, CSS), nursing, occupational therapy, health and social care level 4. Significant experience of managing staff and undertaking appraisals.

Experience of working in a social care/health environment, a sound understanding of assessment and resource allocation processes. The ability to forward plan and allocate workloads including a proven track record in successful partnership and inter-agency working as well as a sound understanding of the management skills required to effectively supervise and manage a team of staff are all essential.

As part of the service's management group contribute to the overall management of the team in order to meet service objectives, key performance targets and statutory requirements of social care legislation.

To mentor and provide supervision to social workers within the team to ensure that their work meets Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and contributes to the achievement of service objectives.

To manage complex cases within statutory and legal frameworks. To demonstrate active leadership skills, including the ability to make informed and balanced decisions in complex situations, and to be a positive role model to other Social Workers and staff.

Registered as Social Worker with Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC), and willingness to evidence continued professional development to maintain registration.

As part of the service's management group contribute to the overall management of the team in order to meet service objectives, key performance targets and statutory requirements of social care legislation.

To mentor and provide supervision to assessment staff workers within the team to ensure that their work contributes to the achievement of service objectives.

To manage complex cases within statutory and legal frameworks. To demonstrate active leadership skills, including the ability to make informed and balanced decisions in complex situations, and to be a positive role model to other staff.

Registered as Social Worker with Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC), and willingness to evidence continued professional development to maintain registration.

Act as 'trusted assessors' for defined areas of the support plan. Conduct or support individual assessments (including risk assessments of both the customer and carer, in line with eligibility criteria to assess the dependency needs of the customer) or facilitate self-assessments, using the appropriate assessment tools and techniques in order to establish clear, relevant, proportionate, cost effective and appropriate options for the individual.

Value and encourage the contribution of service users and their advocates, relatives, carers and support workers where appropriate. Work alongside brokers to procure support plans including equipment and adaptations.

NVQ III or equivalent or the ability to evidence and demonstrate on the job experience working at this level in a Health and Social Care or Social Care related subject.

Undertake clear and accurate statutory assessments and reviews of an individual in line with statutory guidance and best practice. Provide appropriate responses in situations which may be ambiguous and / or difficult, and use analytical skills to influence and inform assessment, decision making and interventions to deliver outcomes that best meet the customer need.