Social Worker Contact and Response

Job Introduction

Hours: 37 hours per week

Interview date: 21 October 2026

Rutland County Council is pleased to advertise an exciting opportunity for a Social Worker to join our Adult Social Care Contact and Response Team. This is a 2-year fixed-term opportunity within a high-performing Adult Social Care service, created to strengthen capacity within our front door team and support continued service development.

We recognise that candidates are often seeking stability and career progression, and while this post is fixed term, Rutland County Council is committed to supporting and developing its workforce. Fixed-term opportunities within Adult Social Care can provide valuable experience, professional development and future progression opportunities within the organisation.

Rutland County Council has been recognised as a top performing local authority in England for Adult Social Care, reflecting the strength of our practice, outcomes for people who draw on support, and the supportive environment we provide for our staff.

About the Role

The Contact and Response Team sits at the front door of Adult Social Care, providing advice, triage, assessment and short-term intervention to adults who may require support. The team plays a key role in promoting independence, prevention and early intervention across the Rutland community.

As a Social Worker within the team, you will undertake strengths-based assessments, support planning and short-term casework, whilst working closely with partner agencies to ensure people receive the right support at the right time.

You will be involved in:

• Undertaking Care Act assessments and developing outcome-focused support plans
• Providing information, advice and signposting to individuals, carers and professionals
• Triage and screening of referrals within a busy front door service
• Completing Mental Capacity Assessments, Best Interest decisions and Decision Support Tools
• Identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns
• Facilitating personal budgets and direct payments
• Working collaboratively with health colleagues and partner agencies
• Maintaining accurate and high-quality case recording in line with service standards

Within Contact and Response, practitioners benefit from:

• Manageable caseloads
• Supportive and visible management
• Strong reflective supervision
• Opportunities to develop front door social work skills
• Close partnership working across health and Adult Social Care
• A collaborative and supportive team culture

Within Contact and Response you will be part of a friendly and collaborative team that values open discussion, shared learning and professional curiosity. We work closely together to manage risk, support one another and deliver high-quality, person-centred practice. Regular supervision, informal peer support and opportunities to develop your skills are an important part of how we work.

This role offers excellent experience for Social Workers wanting to further develop their assessment, triage, safeguarding and decision-making skills within a responsive Adult Social Care service. We welcome applications from Social Workers who are looking to broaden their experience within a front door Adult Social Care setting and join a supportive, high-performing team.

The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Costs for the DBS and Social Work England registration are covered by Rutland County Council.

Please note that you will need a full driving licence to enable you to travel across the county.

About You

You will be an experienced and reflective Social Worker who is confident working within a fast-paced Adult Social Care environment, making timely and proportionate decisions to support adults and manage risk effectively.

You will:

• Be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England
• Have experience working with adults in a statutory, health or social care setting
• Demonstrate a good understanding of the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding responsibilities
• Be confident undertaking strengths-based assessments and managing risk
• Have the ability to triage referrals and make proportionate, defensible decisions
• Communicate effectively with individuals, carers, colleagues and partner agencies
• Work collaboratively whilst using your own professional judgement

Informal enquiries

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact: Alison Morgan, Head of Prevention and Assurance ASC amorgan@rutland.gov.uk

We review applications frequently; however, in periods of high demand, the role may close earlier than advertised, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Our benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A strong focus on health, wellbeing, and work-life balance

For further information on the benefits of working for Rutland, please see our careers page:
Jobs and volunteering | Rutland County Council

Our Values

Our values – Passionate, Ambitious, Work Together, and Make a Difference – guide everything we do. We’re looking for people who share these values and want to contribute to strong, supportive teams that deliver positive outcomes for our communities.