Senior Social Worker

37 hours per week

We are seeking an experienced and committed Senior Social Worker to join our Adult Safeguarding Team. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled practitioner who is passionate about promoting the wellbeing, safety and rights of adults with care and support needs.

As a Senior Social Worker, you will play a key role within the team, providing professional support, leadership, and guidance to team members, as well as colleagues both within and outside of the Local Authority. You will help ensure that adults who are experiencing, or are at risk of, abuse or neglect receive a timely, proportionate, and person-centred response. The role includes supervisory responsibilities, undertaking quality assurance activities, and leading on complex safeguarding enquiries where required, including charring safeguarding meetings.

Working alongside other Senior Social Workers within the team, you will demonstrate the ability to work both collaboratively and independently. You will be confident in leading practice when required, making accountable, evidence-informed decisions, and providing professional challenge where appropriate. On occasion, you will be required to deputise for the Team Manager alongside the other senior social workers.

You will share our team’s commitment, can do attitude and passion in the work of safeguarding adults. You will hold relevant experience in leading others and application of safeguarding legislation.

The successful candidate will be a qualified and experienced social worker who:

• Holds a recognised Social Work qualification.
• Is registered with Social Work England.
• Has substantial post-qualifying experience within Adult Social Care, including safeguarding.
• Demonstrates sound knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act and relevant safeguarding legislation.
• Has experience of managing complex risk and making defensible decisions.
• Possesses excellent assessment, analytical and report-writing skills.
• Is an approachable and supportive team member.
• Can provide leadership, support and professional challenge where required.
• Is committed to delivering person-centred, strengths-based practice.

In return, you will receive regular supervision and be part of a dedicated, supportive team that works collaboratively to deliver high-quality practice. The service promotes reflection and openness, fostering a positive learning environment while maintaining a proportionate and effective approach to safeguarding.

For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Rachael Millmore, Team Manager at Rachael.Millmore@iow.gov.uk

Join #TeamIWC and you'll receive our staff benefits package, including:

• Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
• Local Government pension scheme
• Discounted Solent ferry travel
• Island bus network discount
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff parking permit scheme
• Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
• National and local discounts & benefits schemes
• Relocation scheme of up to £8,000 may be available for some roles (subject to criteria)
• Travel allowance may be available if commuting from the mainland (subject to criteria)

To discover more about our careers please visit Jobs and careers - Isle of Wight

Find out more about Our culture and environment & living on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight Council currently does not have a license to sponsor overseas workers.

We actively promote the diversity of our workforce, and provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees. We are an equal opportunities employer, proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community.

We are a Disability Confident employer. Along with a number of commitments, this means, providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.

The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination, and this is supported by;

unacceptable behaviour policy

employee code of conduct

The Isle of Wight Council’s Terms & Conditions of employment are available upon request. Please contact our recruitment team via adverts@iow.gov.uk if you would like to receive a copy.

The Isle of Wight Council reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than stated, if required. To ensure your application is considered, it is recommended to submit your application promptly.

Please note, appointment to a regulated role will require you to provide additional personal details, including full employment history, referee information, and consent for any required safeguarding checks, as part of the Council’s commitment to safer recruitment and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Out of Hours Standby and Call Out. You may be asked to provide support in exceptional circumstances, outside of usual business hours. Unless stated otherwise in the job summary for the role this is not part of the department’s usual standby arrangements.

The Isle of Wight Council is committed to supporting all newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) via a robust post-graduate competency framework, the ‘Assessed and Supported Year of Employment’ (ASYE). The ASYE is intended to be the first stage of continuing professional development for Registered Social Workers. The framework will be closely allied to the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF). You will be therefore, be required to satisfactorily complete the ASYE programme within a 12-month period (or 18 months if part-time).

For support completing your online application or for further information on how to apply, phone 01983 823134 or email callcentre@iow.gov.uk Only applications submitted online by the closing date will be accepted.

We often receive a high volume of applicants for our vacancies. If you do not hear from the recruiting manager within three weeks of the closing date, we regret that your application will not have been successful on this occasion. Please revisit our job page for alternate posts that may be suitable.