Job Description

Job Title: Social Worker - Gateway Assessment and Connections Team
Location: Hertfordshire
Starting Salary: \xc2\xa333,820 with the opportunity to progress to a maximum of \xc2\xa337,261
Hours: Full time and part time positions available
Contract: Permanent

Relocation package, \xc2\xa31,000 welcome payment & lease car* Terms apply

Are you looking for an exciting new challenge? We are looking for Social Work England (SWE) registered Social Workers to join our new Connected Lives Gateway Service for both Older People and Adults with Disabilities. This service aims to prevent, reduce and delay need by ensuring people access a wide range of information/advice, intervention, and support at the right time and in the most uncomplicated way possible.

The Gateway Service is a unique opportunity to work preventively and ensure people have the right equipment and housing adaptations to enable them to live a full life. You will carry out first assessments, including eligibility decision, personal budget and care and support planning based on an up to 12-week pathway.

This will require working collaboratively with Specialist Care at Home and bed-based enablement providers. This will include operational links with the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise preventative strategy, Herts Help, and social prescribing. Relationships will also be developed with Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) Single Point of Access, the Frailty single point of contact, & Health partners.

As a Level 10 Social Worker you will assist the management team with supervising the day-to-day performance of an operational team in line with quality and standards. You will also cascade information on the corporate context so the organizational messages are understood in the team and disseminating & coaching best practices to help teams understand and enact changes and improvement.

You will promote and supporting a strength-based approach to all interventions to maximise independence, health, and well-being by offering enablement opportunities to prevent, delay or reduce the need for Adult Social Care. This will require you to apply your creativity working with residents to ensure their safety and continued independence. Your knowledge of local services to support people to access appropriate community resources is also crucial as will working alongside Community Care Officers to offer guidance and case support with assessment needs, mentoring and case consultations.

More widely you will also be an ambassador for our HCC Values (RISE), Behaviours, and Professional Standards, both internally and externally. This will also involve contributing to the learning and development of others, including mentoring and supervision. Alongside this, we have excellent training opportunities to support your continuing professional development and a comprehensive benefits package offered through Herts Rewards.

Additional Information

You will need to be SWE registered with a Social Work Degree. It is crucial that you have knowledge and experience of relevant legislation such as the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and other social care legislation as you will be managing complex cases.

An understanding of person-centred care is important as this is a key principle within Hertfordshire\xe2\x80\x99s Connected Lives Practice to ensure people are supported to maintain and develop their independence.

You will need to be a confident individual, a good team player, and a decision maker with the ability to work autonomously with complex cases to enable people to live independently in the community. You will conduct assessments using Adult Care Services\xe2\x80\x99 Connected Lives Assessment framework, to achieve desired outcomes. We need you to be able to work successfully with partners and many other agencies for the benefit of citizens. Your self-organisation is key, as is a \xe2\x80\x98can do\xe2\x80\x99 attitude

We are an inclusive employer and value a diverse workforce and you will gain a unique and extensive experience in the field of adult social care, safeguarding practice and multi-disciplinary working. We promote personalisation focusing on the wellbeing of the individual as we strive for increased independence, choice, and control by enabling people to direct their own support.

Closing date: 14 August 2023
Interview date: TBC

For an informal discussion and more information please contact: Jayne Crockett 01438 843183, James Medus 01438 843546, Sarah Simpson 07458 064268

Benefits of working for us:

• Flexible Working Arrangements (depending on the role)
• Excellent Career Development
• Salary Exchange for Additional Benefits
• Excellent Pension Scheme with Employer Contributions
• Shopping Discounts
• Support Groups & Wellbeing Schemes

Disability Confident: We are proud to be a and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

English Fluency: The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required).

Safeguarding: Safeguarding children and adults is of utmost importance to Hertfordshire County Council. The Council requires employees to abide by legislation and best practice to enable Hertfordshire to achieve this. This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. For more information

Diversity: We are an inclusive employer and value a diverse workforce

Driving Roles Only: As part of this role, you will be required to travel to other HCC Sites/Residences either using your own mode of transport or a company car. In light of this, the ability to drive and/or travel around the County is required for this role a DVLA check will be required on appointment.

Women Only for Care Homes Only: We wel\xc2\xadcome ap\xc2\xadpli\xc2\xadca\xc2\xadtions from every\xc2\xadone ir\xc2\xadre\xc2\xadspec\xc2\xadtive of gen\xc2\xadder, however as women are cur\xc2\xadrently un\xc2\xadder-rep\xc2\xadre\xc2\xadsented in this particular area, we would en\xc2\xadcour\xc2\xadage ap\xc2\xadpli\xc2\xadca\xc2\xadtions from mem\xc2\xadbers of this group. Ap\xc2\xadpoint\xc2\xadment will be based on merit alone.

How to Apply

As part of the application, you will be required to upload your most recent CV ensuring gaps in employment have been addressed and asked to answer the 4 key questions which are located at the end of the advert and a template can be found in the \'Available Documents\'.

1. Can you tell us about your previous experience, your development, and any areas of relevant specialist post qualifications or post graduate training that you have

2. Can you tell us how your competencies, skills, expertise, and professional knowledge would be applied to the key focus of prevention that Gateway will provide for Hertfordshire adult Care Services

3. Our Gateway service relies on agility within our staff team, the ability to perform different roles as required and a high expectation of \xe2\x80\x98team membership\xe2\x80\x99. Being a valued & productive member of the team is accomplishing your role & responsibilities & also performing well as part of the team. How would you describe yourself in relation to this statement?

4. Working in partnership with excellent communication skills is an essential part of your role. You will need to be able to negotiate, influence and act responsibly in ambiguous circumstances. You may be working in complex situations where several different factors exist. You will be a decision maker but also act responsibly in consulting with senior managers in certain situations. Can you describe how your skills & abilities match this statement?

If you do not provide answers to the questions and upload to your application, your application will be rejected.

Hertfordshire County Council