Reading Adult Social Care and the Rough Sleeping Interventions Team are looking for a social worker to support our residents who have experience of rough sleeping, rough sleeping lifestyles and homelessness. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic group of services who are committed to the government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy to end rough sleeping by 2027.
Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is the key to our success
You will be based in the Advice and Wellbeing Hub who manage all the new referrals in Adult Social Care. You will be with a team of Social Workers, Occupational Therapist and Social Care Co-ordinators who can provide peer support and you will receive individual supervision to support you with your case load and development of the role.
About the Role:
Work in accordance with the framework for Make Every Adult Matter (MEAM) Reading and to embrace partnership working with all relevant agencies (drug and alcohol services, homelessness support services and mental health services etc).
To attend the monthly MEAM meetings as a representative of Adult Social Care.
Complete assessments under the Care Act 2014 for services users affected by homelessness, to identify if they have any care and support needs or provide advice and signposting.
To complete mental capacity assessments when relevant.
To assist with the co-ordination of services with complex cases to ensure the service user does not fall through the gaps between services.
Offer support and advice about Safeguarding, risk assessments and mental capacity to partnership agencies.
You will need to have a flexible approach when working with this service user group who often have chaotic lifestyles and distrust statutory services.
You will work within the legal framework provided by the statute, guidance, policies and procedures.
You will need to have:
- A degree or equivalent in Social Work
- Registration with Social Work England
- Understanding of the Care Act 2014
- Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
- Experience and knowledge of working with individuals who are experiencing homelessness and substance misuse.
We offer excellent support, supervision and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new clinical skills, helping you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio, extending your skills and supporting you to grow as a social worker.
We work closely with our colleagues in Reading Borough Council, Health Professionals, Voluntary and Charity colleagues to facilitate the best possible outcomes for those people we support.
The role offers flexible/hybrid working – you have the opportunity to work from home or in the Civic Offices in Reading. You will need to be able to commute into Reading as you will be required to do on site visits and engage with clients in the community.
Our offer
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday entitlement – 24 days holiday each year plus bank holidays – rising to 32 days after 10 years’ service, with the option to buy additional leave
- Maternity, adoption, parental and sick pay
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Access to a range of training and learning opportunities to help you develop
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees
- Season Ticket Loan – a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
- Salary sacrifice scheme for Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to help you save for your retirement
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team – work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency – show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious – be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading – maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Closing date: Tuesday 6th September 2022
Interview date: To be confirmed
If you would like to find out more about this role and the team, please contact Matthew Farrow (Rough Sleeping Interventions Co-ordinator) – 0118 937 3413 or matthew.farrow@reading.gov.uk
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
