Adults Senior Social Worker

The starting salary for this role is £35,691.20 per annum based on a 28.8 hour working week. This is pro-rated from £44,614 FTE. This is a 24-month fixed term / secondment opportunity.

We are excited to be hiring a new Senior Social Worker to join our fantastic Section 117 Team. This is a 24-month fixed term / secondment opportunity (for internal staff, please discuss with your Line Manager before submitting your application. The team is based at Fairmount House in Leatherhead; however, you will have the choice to work flexibly, in accordance with Surrey County Council's hybrid working charter.

We are currently looking for an individual who is interested in developing their practice in this specialised domain. We are most interested in recruiting individuals who are keen to learn, progress their professional development and grow with our team!

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

The Section 117 team has been in operation since April 2021 and has made progressive milestones during this period. We are a small and close-knit team, supporting Section 117 (Mental Health Act) practice and processes across Surrey County Council. We work alongside health colleagues to ensure that all Surrey residents who are eligible for s117 aftercare receive the best outcomes and that their needs are met appropriately. We support and advise practitioners with s117-related enquiries, including complex and ordinary residence scenarios. The team does not hold or manage cases but supports practitioners with all aspects of s117-related work.

About the Role

This role involves initial completion of Care Act assessments followed by creation of a person's Section 117 plan. In line with the aims of Section 117 aftercare, you will support and actively promote wellbeing and independence - enabling individuals and carers to retain or regain their skills and confidence, whilst preventing or reducing the risk of deterioration of a person's mental health.

Section 117 is a joint responsibility between social services and the NHS and as such, you will work closely with our Health partners. This role may involve investigative work to determine a person's ordinary residence and liaising with other local authorities or Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), to resolve uncertainties around Section 117 responsibilities.

As a Senior Social Worker, you will be expected to work with some autonomy, however, the two Senior Practitioner Specialist Leads are always on hand to support with complex cases.

Some service users may not have been reviewed for some time or may have complex needs. You will demonstrate expert and effective practice in complex situations, providing a professional social work service to adults, their families and carers living in Surrey.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• You are a qualified Social Worker who is registered with Social Work England.
• Knowledge of the Care Act and Section 117 Mental Health Act.
• Completion of Surrey County Council's Section 117 Training or the willingness to do so upon appointment.
• An ability to communicate effectively and to problem solve.
• An ability to complete strengths-based assessments with service users who may present with complex challenges and/or have disengaged from services.
• An ability to work with some autonomy.

You will need the willingness and ability to travel around the county to meet the demands of this role.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 06/05/2024 with interviews to follow shortly afterwards. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.