As a qualified social worker are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of vulnerable adults with social care needs? If so, we would love you to join us in Medway Adult Social Care.

Where is Medway?

Medway is a vibrant thriving location with excellent schools, colleges with 3 universities. There are plenty of historic attractions e.g.: Historic Dockyard, Rochester Castle and Cathedral. Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, only 30 miles from London, 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. It provides excellent opportunities for affordable home ownership.

Adult Social Care is pursuing a far-reaching transformation agenda that better meets the needs of our community, so it is an exciting time to join us.

The post

 We have an exciting opportunity for experienced Social Workers (must have completed ASYE and registered with Social Work England) who are highly motivated to work within our generic locality teams. We are looking for people who are committed to delivering a high-quality service, to vulnerable adults in Medway respecting dignity, choice and looking at improving people’s lives across our diverse community.

The role involves working with new service users where we may offer support, advice, guidance, and service users with long-term needs.

The service is delivered using a strengths-based (Conversations Model), personalised approach. We have implemented an innovative locality-based service giving the opportunity to establish close links with local communities and partners.

The successful candidates will be qualified social workers ideally with knowledge and experience of working with adults across any service user groups including learning disability, physical disability, older adults and mental health.  These posts give an ideal opportunity for career development as experience is gained across all service areas and supports social workers who may be looking for promotion to a senior post at a later stage. We are committed to supporting you to grow your career and improve your professional practice.

The role will include assessing vulnerable service users and supporting them to meet their desired outcomes and may include managing safeguarding cases. We have specialist hubs within the team which gives individuals the opportunity to gain experience within a duty setting, safeguarding and assessment/review providing a wide range holistic experience which supports future career development.

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.

Making you feel valued

We offer excellent support including CPD learning opportunities and regular supervision through the senior social worker within the hub arrangements. Individual learning needs will be identified to develop specialist knowledge. Because of these our longstanding staff members have made Medway their permanent home. We have hybrid working arrangements.

 Our Offer

• Generous annual leave entitlement increasing after 5 years
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications including Practice Educator Professional Standards programme (including payment). Approved Mental Health Professional qualification, future training Liberty Protection Safeguards.
• Flexible working scheme.
• Essential car user allowance plus mileage
• Practice educator allowance
• Relocation package
• Travel plan discounts
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• Assisted car purchase scheme

• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.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.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting managers call Emily Stevens on 01634 334252, John Flower on 01634 337561, Sharon Wood on 01634 331976

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

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.