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SalaryWe’ve already taken huge strides forward with our journey for an integrated approach to children’s health, education support and social care and now we’re ready to move on to the next stage in our development. As we move forward, it is vital that everything we do and every service we provide is delivered in a robust way and is in line with national standards and protocols.
Your next role
We are seeking to recruit Qualified Social Workers to undertake the role of Enquiry Officer. Within the adult Safeguarding team. This entails ensuring that a robust and proportionate safeguarding further information gathering process is undertaken and that the person’s views, wishes and preferred outcomes remain at the centre of the process.
We are interested to recruit qualified practitioners who would like to further develop their knowledge, skills and experience in the area of adult safeguarding. For this role you must be committed to the vetting process and to a hybrid role.
You will demonstrate excellent communication and time management skills a willingness to learn and a commitment to a person-centred, strengths based approach.
We are a friendly, dynamic and supportive team and work collaboratively with other teams and agencies to safeguard adults at risk. We will provide a thorough induction and we place a strong emphasis on ongoing peer support, monthly supervision, and continuing professional development.
We like to be at the forefront of technological changes and have our own team SharePoint site to easily keep up to date with the latest news, good practice, celebrating successes as well as working collaboratively across the team.
Here’s what some of our team have said:
“I enjoy working with a team of committed and supportive Social Workers to safeguard the vulnerable service users in Swindon. I have not felt isolated as the management team and colleagues are so accessible both with the office and via daily huddles virtually. Flexible hybrid working has also enabled me to balance home/work life as I have a young family”.
“Since joining the safeguarding team, I have had a very positive, enjoyable experience and I feel as though I am making a difference. The team and management are very supportive as well as encouraging and there is a good respectful atmosphere between us”.
As a Social Worker/Enquiry Officer, you will join us in Adult Social Care in a friendly, supportive and dynamic team, bringing a particular interest in and focus on Adult Safeguarding.
This role will see you working closely with the residents of Swindon and their families as well as a number of professionals including health, provider services, safeguarding and mental health colleagues.
The Adult Social Care Teams support adults living in Swindon and you will be responsible for completing Care Act Assessments and proportionate support planning. In addition, you will be undertaking S42 Enquiries and ensuring appropriate protection plans. You will follow the care management process of reviews, completing Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest decisions.
You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).
Our transformation journey
Like all other local authorities, we are experiencing an increase in demand. As an organisation we know our Adults’ Services are on a rapid improvement journey which is why last year we started making big changes across the service to provide the best care for children and great conditions for our staff. This started with us recruiting an entirely new leadership team of experienced, forward thinking managers who are driving changes in the service and we aim to be one of the best Adults’ Services in the country.
Our Adult Practitioners’ Induction
A practitioner-specific, Swindon-specific induction programme, aimed at providing you with the information you need regarding the policies and procedures of Adult Social Care at Swindon Borough Council.
The induction programme incorporates a blend of face-to-face activities and e-learning modules aimed at consolidating and reviewing your knowledge of the key areas.
These key areas include:
- Understanding how to use our case management system
- Understanding the Safeguarding and Quality Assurance policies and procedures
- Understanding and using a strength-based approach
Improvements include:
- Multi-million pound investment in staff and support
- Significant restructure creating smaller Social Worker teams
- New intuitive IT system to cut down on desk time and make mobile working the norm
- High standards for management practice, support and supervision for staff
- Listening to our Social Workers by holding regular social work forums
- Implementing Liquid Logic and will be using this system from October 2023.
At the heart of it all is our desire to promote and cultivate a strong learning culture combined with outstanding leadership and supervision. Here is what you can expect to find when you arrive:
- Early help and community health practitioners co-located with our Social Workers, providing great working relationships
- Fantastic relationships with partner agencies such as the police and Swindon CCG
- Teams located within communities, providing a closer connection to the people we work with
Our new offer to you
We recognise that getting the best outcomes for our Adults means getting the best from you and we have listened to what our Social Workers and our Managers most value.
Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.
As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.
For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.
Please see our Vision and Values page for more details
Your next steps
Read the role profile and select the Apply button where you will be redirected to the Swindon Borough Council website to complete our online application process. Clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this job website is not an application, you must register on the Swindon Borough Council website in order to be considered for the role.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early so early applications are encouraged.
For further information about the role please contact Anne-Marie Woods, Team Manager at AWoods2@swindon.gov.uk
If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk
