Job Introduction
We’re seeking a Social Work Assistant to join our Safeguarding Team within Adult Social Care, a team where you can develop your skills in a supportive environment.
As a Social Work Assistant, you’ll play a pivotal role in screening and triaging information sent to us by the police and ambulance service. You’ll also support the Duty Social Worker with same-day welfare visits and will share advice with colleagues and partner agencies when a safeguarding referral should be made.
If you care about supporting people to live independent lives, free from abuse and neglect, and possess the right skills and qualifications, we invite you to join us in our mission to provide exceptional care and support within a positive and nurturing work environment. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the wellbeing of our community.
If you would like an informal conversation or to drop in and meet us before applying, you are warmly welcomed to do so. Please contact Poppy Tomalin (Principal Social Worker) to arrange this. Poppy.tomalin@milton-keynes.gov.uk
About the Safeguarding Team:
Our team comprises dedicated professionals committed to delivering exemplary Adult Social Care Services under the Care Act 2014. We uphold professional standards, promote resilience, and ensure the wellbeing of the people using our services and our team members. With a focus on continuous improvement, we offer comprehensive support, training and development opportunities to facilitate personal and professional growth.
Interviews will be held on 4 October
Main Responsibility
- Safeguarding/Risk - With guidance, have the ability to recognise risk/abuse and know who and how to escalate. With support, create care/support plans with individuals that reduce risk.
- Review – With guidance, use supervision to review outcomes and interventions to measure input and ways to improve outcomes for people.
- Case Management – With support and guidance, balance the demands of a case load and use the data base to record interventions within agreed timescales.
- Strength Based Practice – Listen and understand what is important to the person and what they have already available to them in the community to achieve desired outcomes.
- Assessment – With guidance carry out assessments/reviews and care plans that clearly identify outcomes that can be reviewed.
- Relationship Building – Be able to communicate clearly with individuals, their carers/family and other professionals across health and social care to work together to achieve positive outcomes for people.
- Practical Support – Provide one-off practical support when needed to aid individuals’ independence.
The Ideal Candidate
- All post holders will work according to the city council’s Values and Expectations.
- Spoken English Duty Requirement - The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for this post.
- Able to travel to meet service delivery requirements. For this role you are required to have a full UK driving licence and provide evidence of your vehicle insurance with business cover and use of a vehicle. If you are successful, you will be required to supply evidence of your licence prior to starting the role.
- Should you be offered the role, as part of the pre-employment checks an Enhanced DBS will be actioned for you (unless you are on the DBS Update Service).
- Available to undertake work outside of normal working hours when required.
- Ability to use IT systems and software appropriately to record and communicate.
- Commitment to own development and learning.
- Ideally educated to Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent/or are highly experienced with demonstrable on the job knowledge and skills.
At Milton Keynes Adult Social Care Services, we take pride in our supportive work culture and try to go that extra mile when it comes to investing in our colleagues. Have a read of our Social Workers' testimonials and see for yourself. You can meet Poppy, our Principal Social Worker on our dedicated landing page for Social Workers.
Your Professional Development:
We recently developed and implemented our new career progression framework to create long term stability in the social worker workforce by creating opportunities for progression and supporting professional development. We also provide formal development for experienced social workers by supporting them to undertake practice educator, best interest assessor and AMHP training.
Your Wellbeing:
We understand the importance of providing support and resources to promote resilience and well-being. We are committed to providing a range of support and guidance to ensure that colleagues are able to seek the appropriate level of support, should they need to. This includes:
- Access to MKCC Employee Assistance Programme and Health Champions.
- Variety of Health and Wellbeing Workshops.
- Quality supervision and reflective practice sessions.
- Clear career progression pathways and support for professional registration fees.
- Exceptional pension scheme and other benefits.
Personal Summary:
Applicants are encouraged to complete the personal summary section of the application. This is your opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge.
*T&C’s apply
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.
We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.
If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.
