This is an excellent opportunity to be part of Hounslow’s Adult Social Care department is a dynamic service, fast- paced service comprising of Social Workers, Social Work Assistants and Social Care Advisors that work with multiple professionals to ensure that residents of Hounslow have access to a Adult Social Care Duty team that will identify the support they require as soon as possible.
The First Contact Team is based within Hounslow House and staff work both on site and remotely.
Within the role as a Social Work Assistant in the Adult Social Care department in the London Borough of Hounslow, staff are required to undertake Care Act assessments, home visits, make and receive telephone calls in relation to residents’ care needs and work together as part of a team to provide the best possible support to our residents.
The First Contact Team is the front door for Adult Social Care and acts as the first point of contact for our residents to request support for their care and support needs. The teamwork with the strengths of our residents to enable them to remain as independent as possible whilst providing commissioned care and support when required to ensure residents’ needs are met.
Human Rights is at the centre of the service’s work, and we ensure that we are the voice of the resident that we are serving and that we embody our social work values in our day-to-day roles.
We will provide excellent career opportunities and encourages active learning through the learning and development programme on offer. You will be well supported in your role through supervision, training, and professional development.
The successful applicant will have a passion for social work values and supporting residents and staff wherever possible.
First contact is a large team which comprise of Social Workers, Social Work Assistant and Social Care advisors.
Completing Care Act assessments to identify whether residents are eligible for care and support from the Local Authority.
Completing duty tasks such as making telephone calls to establish residents’ needs, completing referrals to other departments and external agencies and provide input and any other tasks required to promote the wellbeing of residents.
Completing Safeguarding alerts and identifying whether Section 42 enquiries are required.
Working effectively as part of a team and contributing to a collaborative environment.
• Have experience working in a social/health care setting.
• Ability to form positive relationships with service users and carers and other professionals.
• Ability to prioritise work effectively based on need and risks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Be able to make decisions and demonstrate management of risk.
• You will have contributed to a positive team culture and be a strong team member, with an emphasis on achieving collective goals and supporting colleagues on a daily basis.
• You will bring experience of delivering positive outcomes for residents that you have worked with and demonstrate examples of where you have upheld human rights.
• You will have some knowledge of legislation such as the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• You’ll have to demonstrate your ability to work to tight timescales in a fast-paced environment and be able to flexibly manage your day-to-day priorities.
• Comfortable using different types of IT with an appetite to learn new systems.
The London Borough of Hounslow is a vibrant, exciting place to visit, stay and explore, with many hidden gems. Miles of rivers – including the Thames, canals, nature reserves and parks, bustling town centres, and a fantastic leisure offer.
Children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do here in Hounslow. We listen to what children, young people and families have to say about what we do and how and where we do it because their say matters. Putting children, young people and families first is at the heart of our Family Friendly vision and we are committed to developing and supporting our workforce to deliver excellent services using resilience-based approaches.
We are looking for skilled, dynamic and motivated professionals who are aspirational for children and young people with the ability to drive change in the families and professional systems they work within. If you thrive in a child-centred and creative environment – Hounslow could be for you. We know that to recruit passionate, dedicated social workers - where there’s simply more demand than the available resource - we must show our appreciation in more tangible ways. That's why we have put together an attractive package for all our social workers.
In return for your skills, knowledge, and experience, you will receive an appropriate starting salary and a friendly, kind, positive and supportive working culture. We also offer:
Annual leave – Generous annual leave entitlements starting from 22 days and rising to max 30 days.
Christmas closure – Up to 3 days, between Christmas and New Year, if your office is closed. This is at the discretion of the council.
Employee benefits –a range of discounts and benefits across a range of companies which you can access as an employee of Hounslow.
Enhanced maternity leave – Up to 52 weeks’ leave after the birth of the baby and the option of a phased return over 3 months.
Flexible working arrangements - our focus is on the outcomes you deliver and we are flexible about where and how this is best achieved.
Local Government Pension Scheme – Open to all employees, this is a tax approved, occupational pension scheme. Your contributions are based on a sliding scale according to your salary band.
Learning and development – we want you to learn everyday. We have a fantastic range of resources and opportunities and are committed to your development throughout your career with us.
Premature baby leave and pay – where a baby is born prematurely. We are proud to have The Smallest Things Charter mark.
Paternity Leave – Up to two weeks paid leave Parental Leave – Up to 18 weeks’ unpaid leave.
Parental Bereavement leave - two weeks’ paid leave following the death of a child or a stillbirth.
Pool cars –Pool bikes –available for our employees to use for work.
Shared parental leave – Up to 50 weeks’ shared parental leave.
Season ticket loans – Interest free loans for British Rail, Underground and Bus season tickets.
Staff wellbeing services - Including access to Occupational Health, an Osteopath/Chiropractor and Employee Assistance Programme.