Job Introduction
Join the Medway Safeguarding Team!
We are thrilled to announce the transformation of our service delivery model from three safeguarding teams to one unified team. As part of our expansion, we are seeking an additional Senior Social Worker to join our dynamic team.
About the Role:
Collaborate with five Senior Social Workers and two Team Managers to provide strong and effective leadership. You will support our Social Workers, Social Care Officers, and Outreach Worker in delivering positive outcomes for the people of Medway through strengths-based practice.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as a Designated Senior Officer for safeguarding concerns and S.42 enquiries.
- Ensure timely and robust responses to safeguarding issues, in line with policy, guidance, and legislation.
- Screen safeguarding referrals, make decisions on case progression, authorise safeguarding plans, ensure agreed actions are undertaken and enter accurate case notes in line with required timescales.
- Chair a range of safeguarding meetings.
- Maintain high standards of practice across the team, with a focus on making safeguarding personal.
- Support the Team Manager and Operations Manager in achieving key performance indicators.
- Work collaboratively with council colleagues and partner agencies to meet person-centred outcomes within budgetary constraints.
- Represent the local authority in key meetings, panels, and groups, ensuring follow-up on agreed actions.
- Promote adult safeguarding policies and processes both internally and externally to partners.
- Support the Team Manager with recruitment responsibilities.
About You:
You will have -
- Extensive experience in Safeguarding Adults’ work, ideally as a Designated Senior Officer (DSO) or Safeguarding Adults Manager (SAM).
- Proven ability to manage complex and high-risk safeguarding cases, with in-depth knowledge of the Court of Protection.
- Experience of undertaking complex Mental Capacity Assessments and Care Needs Assessments.
- Experience in supervising social care staff is desirable.
- Ability to work flexibly and autonomously in a high-paced, pressurised environment, including face-to-face visits at short notice is essential to this role.
Our Offer:
In addition to the annual salary, we are proud to offer an excellent benefits package including -
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Generous local government pension scheme package
- Access to wider training and development qualifications
- Flexible working scheme
- Travel plan discounts
- Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
- Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
Apply now and be part of a team committed to making a real impact!
For an informal discussion about the role, please send your contact details via email to the recruiting managers, Debbie Dukes on debbie.dukes@medway.gov.uk or Gulam Robbani on gulam.robbani@medway.gov.uk
Our organisation:
Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.
Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.
We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.
Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.
Important Information:
Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile
This post is subject to an enhanced Adults DBS check.
Additional Information:
Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.
When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.
The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:
Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.
Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.
Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.
You can demonstrate knowledge, experience and skills to allow you to perform within this role. You will identify, through application, how you meet the elements detailed within the person specification, at either Level A, B or C. You will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.
Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement
Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age
For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
If you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.
All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation/correspondence in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Resourcing Team on 01634 332878.
