Experienced Adult Social Worker

JOB DESCRIPTION

DIRECTORATE:
Adult Services and Health
DIVISION:
Careline
JOB TITLE:
Social Worker - Careline (Adult)
GRADE:
7
SALARY RANGE:
£33,782 - £38,890
Plus 15% enhancement to cover unsocial hours
LOCATION:
City Wide
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE JOB:
· To work as an Adult Social Worker in Careline, this involves working as part of a 24/7 social work service, following a variable shift pattern. This will include working in the Out of Hours Service which is managed within Careline.
· To work within the framework of legislation relevant to the location of the post in accordance with the City Council’s policies and procedures.
· To work with or on the behalf of adults to assist them to resolve their personal circumstances and adjust to or change their social environment in order to improve their life chances and social inclusion.
· To undertake social work enquiries in processing adult referrals. This will include further evaluation and initial assessments on adult referrals prior to assigning to appropriate assessment and care management teams.
· To work in accordance with safeguarding procedures in the identification and protection of vulnerable adults, this will include completing initial safeguarding enquiries on lower level safeguarding concerns on commissioned services.
· To work in a generic manner during the out of hours period, covering aspects of children’s social care as directed by the duty social work team leader. This will include completion of children’s single assessments.
DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO:
Team Leader/Team Manager
THIS POST IS SUBJECT TO A DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE (DBS) CHECK AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL:
Enhanced DBS

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
· Assess the need for social work assessment and services within the City Council’s eligibility criteria and relevant legislation. This includes the identification of risk and the need for protection.
· To respond professionally to requests for assistance, taking sufficient basic information about the needs in question so as to be able to determine the level and type of assessment required.
· To act in accordance with the Community Care legislation, policy and guidance.
· Decide or advise on the appropriate community services resource resources in accordance with the assessed needs.
· Plan and organise an appropriate range of services, ensuring liaison and negotiation with other professionals, statutory, voluntary and community resources to ensure that the most appropriate service is provided.
· To support the “first point of contact” function for adult social care; this includes undertaking enquiries with service users and professionals in the initial stages of the adult’s referral process and making decisions about the levels of need and interventions required.
· To work as a part of the integrated Out of Hours service; this includes working a variable shift pattern and undertaking assessments in the community.
· Comply and have knowledge of the statutory obligation of the City Council and have an up to date knowledge of the legal framework and responsibilities relevant to the post.
· Maintain appropriate records of work undertaken on the relevant ICT systems in line with national and local policies, practices and procedures and to write reports to a professional standard that inform Management.
· Supervise students when appropriate.
· Contribute to evaluation and development of services by sharing knowledge, skills and practice with other Community Services staff, professional groups and interested bodies.
· Establish positive working relationships with service users and their carers, ensuring that their views are always sought and recorded.
· Work within a performance management framework to achieve outcomes relevant to the service area.
· To carry out duties to the highest standard of professional practice in accordance with the City Councils policies, codes of practice and aims and visions.
· To assist and advise Careline Customer Advisors on social work issues.
· To work in a generically covering both Adult and Children’s services.
· Additional General Responsibilities.
· Prepare for and attend supervision sessions within the organisations supervision policy, attend staff meetings and make use of all training and developmental opportunities, accepting responsibility for your own professional development.
· To receive regular PRD as laid down in the Performance Management Framework.
· To promote and enhance co-operation and effective working relationships between professional colleagues and agencies.
· To undertake other duties as commensurate within the grade.
· Develop the City Council’s commitment to equal opportunities and to promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken.
It must be understood that every employee has a responsibility to ensure that their work complies with all statutory requirements with Standing Orders and Financial Regulations of the City Council and to ensure that all work functions are undertaken in accordance with health and safety legislation, codes of practice and the City Council’s safety plan.
This job description is not intended to be either prescriptive or exhaustive. It is issued as a framework to outline the main areas of responsibility.

Social Workers and Social Care Assessor posts in CMHT’s are allocated a significant caseload of service users that have severe and enduring mental illness. Referrals for service users come from community settings, inpatient settings – Acute psychiatric hospitals, Low, Medium and High Secure forensic hospitals. A significant number of these cases pose high risks to service users and others, requiring intensive input in developing risk management plans. Social workers are required to work alongside health colleagues, to complete, Care Act Assessments, Support plans and S42 Safeguarding enquires. They should experience of attending tribunals for inpatients and completing relevant reports. As sound Knowledge of relevant legislation is essential.