Our Adult Social Work teams
West Northants Council Adult Social Care has been on an exciting journey of transformation as we undertook the change to become a unitary authority in April 2021.
This has given us the opportunity to really look at how we provide adult social care on a more localised level. This has led to lots of exciting innovations and a new model of working which puts people and their communities firmly at the heart of what we do.
We are always on the lookout for passionate Social Workers who can help us make an impact.
You can see our current vacancies below and hear more from people in the individual teams about what they do and love about their role at West Northants.
You can also email [email protected] for an informal chat or to ask any questions before making an application. We would love to hear from you!
We have several teams based across Northampton, and our rural teams cover South Northants and Towcester. We are proud to be the front door for these communities.
Discover more about working as a Social Worker in the Northampton community team.
Hear from Peter about his experience in the Rural Community team.
If you are passionate about working with people to promote independence and dedicated to making a difference, then we would love to hear from you.
We use a strengths-based, outcomes focussed approach. We engage people in a conversational model which allows them to tell us what really matters to them.
Hear from Kelly and Siobhan as they tell us more about the team and what they love about their roles.
They ensure all safeguarding concerns are appropriately managed using legislation to inform risk-based decision making. The team works closely with key partners such as CQC and Health and Social Care Commissioners.
Catherine tells us more about her role and what the team do.
FaCT assess a person’s needs and encourage them to achieve their best outcomes.
In a short video, Julia tells us more about the role of the FACT team.
Carla and Catherine tell us more about how they do this, and what they most enjoy about their roles at West Northants Council.
They also complete reviews for people in residential and nursing homes, assets below assessments and support the flow from discharge to assess placements and Specialist Care Centres.
Social work roles
Our vision is to increase the wellbeing and outcomes of all adults, giving them the opportunity to live well, age well, and stay well. All in a manner that helps people have as much control of their lives as possible.
Find out more about the different roles we have in our Social Work teams, and the requirements for each role:
They should also have:
- significant experience of managing staff and undertaking appraisals
- experience of working in a social care/health environment
- a sound understanding of assessment and resource allocation processes
- the ability to forward plan and allocate workloads, including a proven track record in successful partnership and inter-agency working
- a sound understanding of the management skills required to effectively supervise and manage a team of staff
In this role, a Principal Social Worker will:
- mentor and provide supervision to social workers within the team to ensure that their work meets Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and contributes to the achievement of service objectives
- manage complex cases within statutory and legal frameworks
- demonstrate active leadership skills, including the ability to make informed and balanced decisions in complex situations
- be a positive role model to other Social Workers and staff
You must be registered as a Social Worker with Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC), and have a willingness to evidence continued professional development to maintain registration.
A Principal Care Manager will:
- mentor and provide supervision to assessment staff workers within the team to ensure that their work contributes to the achievement of service objectives
- manage complex cases within statutory and legal frameworks
- demonstrate active leadership skills, including the ability to make informed and balanced decisions in complex situations
- be a positive role model to other staff.
Social Workers at West Northants Council will:
- act as 'trusted assessors' for defined areas of the support plan
- conduct or support individual assessments (including risk assessments of both the customer and carer, in line with eligibility criteria to assess the dependency needs of the customer) or facilitate self-assessments, using the appropriate assessment tools and techniques in order to establish clear, relevant, proportionate, cost effective and appropriate options for the individual
- value and encourage the contribution of service users and their advocates, relatives, carers and support workers where appropriate
- work alongside brokers to procure support plans including equipment and adaptations
This role involves:
- undertaking clear and accurate statutory assessments and reviews of an individual in line with statutory guidance and best practice
- providing appropriate responses in situations which may be ambiguous and / or difficult
- using analytical skills to influence and inform assessment, decision making and interventions to deliver outcomes that best meet the customer need
Interested in working with us?
If you hold a social work qualification and are registered with Social Work England, we would love to hear from you!
We are looking for Social Workers who are passionate about ensuring people have choice and control over their own support needs and focus on the person, their strengths and networks.
Standard hours are 9 to 5:30, however there is the option for flexible working and welcome both full and part time applications. This role is subject to DBS enhanced disclosure paid for by WNC.
About you
We would love to hear from you if:
- you’ll have a social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
- you’ll enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, you’re hardworking and committed with enthusiasm for social work
- you have the passion to promote people’s strengths and the ability to make a difference in a safe working approach to social work practices
- you are proactive and can think creatively
- you demonstrate problem solving abilities, working alongside people to enable them to find their own solutions
- you exercise professional curiosity rather than accept things at face value or make decisions based on assumptions
- you have up to date knowledge of legislation and demonstrable experience of delivering social care outcomes to people in need.
- you have good communication and IT skills
- you are able to prioritise, using a risk-based approach
- you put your ability to analyse and take action in challenging situations to good use and are confident in seeking support
- you are willing and able to work collaboratively with a wide range of partners, including community groups and the voluntary sector as well as colleagues in health and other sectors
- you love a challenge and have an openness to learn
Career development and training opportunities
As a Social Worker joining West Northants Council, you’ll receive a supportive induction and shadowing period to enable orientation to the service. important to us. It ensures we have the right people, with the right skills, doing the right job.
We are committed to career development and offer training and development opportunities for those who want to progress, for example AMHP training (for those 2 years post-qualified). We also support Newly Qualified Social Workers through their ASYE.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, including:
- 28 days annual leave per year (pro rata for part time employees), plus bank holidays, increasing to 32 after 5 years’ continuous service
- the option to buy additional annual leave
- Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection
- working in a supportive team where ideas are shared and opinions valued, you will receive regular informal and formal supervision and the opportunity to be part of and learn from multi-agency working
- employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more
- car lease scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme - our free Employee Assistant Programme is available for you and your immediate family members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information
- ongoing training and development opportunities
- generous relocation allowance of up to 25% of starting salary or £8,000 (whichever is the lesser, Terms and Conditions apply)
Last updated 07 October 2024