Experienced Social Worker, Mental Health Team
Job specification
We are bold and ambitious in our plans, with a clear vision and direction for the future. Our status as one of the UK’s fastest growing towns is driving transformational change across our organisation, most significantly within our highly valued Adults’ Services teams.
Your next role
We are looking for an Experienced Social Worker in the Mental Health Team.
This is a fixed-term contract due to maternity cover; however, there is a possibility that this may extend into a permanent contract.
You will have sound strength-based skills and be passionate about ensuring people with a mental illness are supported to live their best lives. You will demonstrate excellent communication and assessment skills and enjoy working in a fast paced but supportive environment.
Experience of working with mental health clients is beneficial to the role but we will consider people who have sound practice skills (including recent experience of undertaking Care Act assessments) and are willing to learn more about mental health work.
This role will see you working closely with the residents of Swindon and their families as well as a number of professionals including health, provider services, safeguarding and housing.
You will be responsible for completing Care Act assessments and proportionate support planning. In addition, you will be undertaking S42 Enquiries and ensuring appropriate protection plans. You will follow the care management process of reviews, completing Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest decisions.
You must hold a formal social work degree and be registered with Social Work England to apply for this post.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.
You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).
Our Adult Practitioners’ induction
A practitioner-specific, Swindon-specific induction programme, aimed at providing you with the information you need regarding the policies and procedures of Adult Social Care at Swindon Borough Council.
The induction programme incorporates a blend of face-to-face activities and e-learning modules aimed at consolidating and reviewing your knowledge of the key areas.
These key areas include:
- understanding how to use our case management system
- understanding the Safeguarding and Quality Assurance policies and procedures
- understanding and using a strength-based approach
Improvements include:
- Multi-million pound investment in staff and support
- Significant restructure creating smaller social worker teams
- New intuitive IT system to cut down on desk time and make mobile working the norm
- High standards for management practice, support and supervision for staff
- Listening to our social workers by holding regular social work forums
- Implemented Liquid Logic.
Our offer to you
We recognise that getting the best outcomes for our Adults means getting the best from you and we have listened to what our Social Workers and our Managers most value.
Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.
As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.
For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.
Please see our Vision and Values page for more details.
Please see our new Swindon Plan.
Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you are a registered Social Worker and meet the majority of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.
Your next steps
Read the role profile and select the Apply button where you will be redirected to the Swindon Borough Council website to complete our online application process. Clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this job website is not an application, you must register on the Swindon Borough Council website in order to be considered for the role.
Before applying for a secondment it is essential for all employees to discuss their availability for release with their line manager before applying. Should permission not be forthcoming then they should refer the matter to their Head of Service.
If you would like to discuss this opportunity further please contact Alison James at AJames2@swindon.gov.uk who can arrange a call with you.
As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.
If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk