Social Worker (Adults)

Job Introduction

*The First Contact Team engages with citizens of Staffordshire, carrying out strengths based, outcome focused assessments via the telephone and virtual technology. The service also delivers a single point of access to all age carers who are supported to access information, advice and guidance.*

The Care Act 2014 compliant assessments determine citizens assessed eligible needs while promoting their assets and facilitating their independence. First Contact will develop care and support plans with people and work with Brokerage to put services in place to meet their residual eligible social care needs.

There will be a requirement for the post holder to participate in a weekend working rota.

Main Responsibility

As a social worker you will:

• Take responsibility for the provision of asset based assessments under the Care Act and Children and Families Act inclusive of all statutory functions.
• Participate on the inter-agency best interest assessor rota for adults and All age carers
• Use person centred thinking tools to inform the assessment
• Develop a collaborative relationship with citizens, their representatives, and any professionals involved in their support, promoting positive expectations of what citizens can achieve, understanding their talents, wishes and feelings.
• As part of the assessment process, undertake purposeful interaction with citizens, families and other professionals to understand the needs and strengths of the individual, their network of relationships and their capacity to consent.
• Support and mentor Social Care Assessors by actively engaging in peer group discussions about cases, to inform practice; and to identify the need for and provide professional interventions.
• Analyse information to understand risks and develop strategies to explain, avoid or manage risk appropriately.

The Ideal Candidate

You will have:

• Experience of planning personalised individual support with adults.
• Understanding of the legislative and policy context of services for adults and Young Carers including case law and findings from enquiries.
• Knowledge of adult physical, intellectual emotional and social development and family dynamics.
• Knowledge and some experience of applying the Mental Capacity Act assessments, Best Interest Assessments.
• Knowledge of mental health legislation including section 117.
• Understanding of the principles of the different funding streams available to support adults.
• Experience of working as part of a team, in developing services and the professional practice of colleagues.
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills and interactions with individuals and families.
• Be able to analyse written, verbal and observed information, using established models, to determine needs, challenge assumptions and enable informed choice.
• Recognise and manage conflicting values and ethical dilemmas in practice, using supervision, team discussion and challenging assumptions.
• Be able to critically reflect on their own practice.
• Be resourceful and resilient - able to operate in a changing environment.