Senior Social Worker - Mental Health Social Care Team

We are seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join our Mental Health Social Care Team, focusing on individuals experiencing self-neglect and hoarding behaviours. This role requires a compassionate and collaborative approach to working with individuals in complex situations, ensuring they receive the necessary support and intervention to improve their well-being.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.

About the role:
The role will be working with complex mental health / hoarding disorder cases, considering if action is needed to safeguard people / minimising risk / assessing capacity and considering any legal action needed. It involves developing partner working and building the new service.

The applicant will need a sound knowledge of working considering the Mental Capacity Act, the Care Act and the Mental Health Act. Training can also be given.

In Reading we use the Conversation Counts model and the team offer the full range of social care interventions for the client group, from advice and signposting, adult safeguarding, discharges from the psychiatric hospital, to initial assessments under the Care Act and commissioning of services to meet eligible needs or mental health aftercare needs under S117 Mental Health Act 1989 and onward reviews.

Working as a Senior Social Worker for Reading Borough Council you will be part of a friendly and supportive team. We are looking for an individual who can demonstrate great communication skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with adults of all ages, colleagues and health partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Hold a small caseload of individuals living in hoarded environments and at risk of self-neglect.
• Use a collaborative and strength-based approach to engage and support individuals who hoard.
• Conduct home visits to assess and monitor individuals' needs and progress.
• Complete Care Act assessments and Mental Capacity assessments to determine appropriate support.
• Lead and contribute to safeguarding investigations and strategy meetings where necessary.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with key stakeholders, including health professionals, care providers, the Fire Service, housing providers, Environmental Health teams, and other social care teams.
• Gather and analyse information and data to inform the development of future services.
• Ensure accurate case recording on Mosaic in line with professional standards.
• Ensure that all assessments are strength-based, and that care and support plans are proportionate, cost-effective, and person-centred.

About you
Good knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act is pivotal to the role and experience of court work and Community DOLS is required. The team takes a strengths-based approach and aims to help individuals tap into support available in their local network where possible with an aim of preventing needs arising and promoting independence in their own home.

You will work within the legal framework provided by the statute, guidance, policies, and procedures.

You will need to have:

• A degree or equivalent in Social Work
• Registration with Social Work England
• Understanding of the Care Act 2014 and relevant legislation that guides Adult Social Care.
• Understanding and experience in working with the MHA 1983 (as amended 2007) and the MCA 2005)
• Significant understanding and experience in working with adults with serious mental illness.
• Good teamwork and networking skills
• A proven ability to focus on good outcomes for people

We offer excellent support, supervision and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop. There are opportunities for training as an Approved Mental Health Professional, BIA or practice educator.

We work closely with our colleagues within Reading Borough Council, Health Professionals, Voluntary and Charity colleagues to facilitate the best possible outcomes for those people we support.

This role offers Agile/Hybrid Working – you have the opportunity to work from home and the Civic Offices in Reading but also you will need to attend face to face visits within the Reading Borough.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

If you would like to find out more about this role and the team, please contact Ruvimbo Katsholo, Mental health Social Care Team Manager, on Ruvimbo.Katsholo@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 25th October 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed

Visit: www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.