Social Worker - Adult Sensory Services

Role Responsibility

We are looking for a Social Worker to come and join our team.  Your role will involve assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating interventions and services for the individuals you are working with.  As well as working alongside multi-disciplinary colleagues and with other agencies and the voluntary sector to support service users and carers to develop personalised care and support plans which draw on community resources to achieve the most positive outcomes.

The adult sensory service is a small Kent wide team which has the knowledge, skills and experience to work with d/Deaf and deaf-blind individuals, whatever their communication preferences, including British Sign Language (BSL).  Our aim is to assist people affected by deafness or deaf blindness to empower them to lead as full and independent life as possible. 

Our vision is about engagement with the people we work with and really understanding and knowing what is important to the person and their families/ cares to achieve meaningful and positive outcomes.  We are committed to an innovative approach and looking at how we can use technology to support service user’s independence and quality of life.  Overall, we are passionate about the people we work with and are looking for someone who shares the same values as us.

You will be registered as a Social Worker with Social Work England, you will have a degree in Social Work, CQSW/Dipsw or equivalent (or on the verge of completing your Social Work degree). 

You must also possess:

• A good working knowledge of all relevant Social Care legislation and Codes of Practice and be able to apply the Care Act along with other relevant legislation, i.e., Mental Capacity Act, Human Rights, Mental Health Act.
• A good working knowledge of d/Deaf and deaf-blind people and the communication skills required to work effectively - BSL skills or be willing to work towards gaining the level required to undertake the role.
• Be able to identify, intervene and safeguard to promote welfare.
• Good computer literacy and report writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and mediation and negotiation skills.

In return, we offer a flexible working approach and value our staff as individuals and aim to help them to achieve their full potential.  This includes resources available through the Social Care Academy to achieve your career ambitions, robust induction and training opportunities and plenty of opportunities to both undertake and contribute to initiatives.  If newly qualified, you will be supported to undertake the Assessed and Supported Year in Practice (ASYE) in the first year of your employment.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

We also welcome applications from experienced Registered Nurses and Occupational Therapists with relevant experience into our Community Practitioner roles. If you hold a registration with a professional body (Social Work England, HCPC, Nursing and Midwifery Council) and would like to know more about these opportunities please contact Nikki O’ Sullivan on 03000 418 709 or email nikki.o’sullivan@kent.gov.uk.

Contact Details

For further information on this role, please contact:

Nikki O’ Sullivan – Sensory Service Manager on 03000 418 709 or email nikki.o’sullivan@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let’s talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county’s working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.