Vacancy Summary

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 benefits include:

• Monthly professional supervision.
• Monthly CPD activities.
• Flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home (laptop and mobile phone provided).
• Competitive annual leave allowance.
• Paid mileage
• Relevant training provided

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 292130 for further details.

Equal Opportunities
The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment, and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

How to apply

Please complete an online application form.

Where possible please use Google Chrome as your preferred internet browser to complete your online application form. This system no longer supports the use of Internet Explorer as a browser which will cause issues when trying to submit your application.

This role requires the incumbent to have a car available at work to undertake his/her duties as they will be expected to undertake at least 1500 business miles per year. Essential Car User status attracts a lump sum allowance paid on a monthly basis as well as a free car parking space if he/she works at one of the Council’s corporate buildings.

This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2017; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.

All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

This privacy notice applies to job applicants applying for vacancies with West Berkshire Council https://info.westberks.gov.uk/pnapplications