Senior Social Worker Senior Social Worker

We are looking for a Registered Qualified Senior Social Worker to join our team providing specialist social work support working with Deaf and Deafblind adults in Surrey. We provide specialist social work support working within the community and provision of specialist social work Duty Support. Our team is a dynamic mixture of qualified and trainee social workers, Deaf community officers and Social Care Assistants, and we work closely with our locality colleagues. You would be joining a highly supportive and compassionate team, passionate about promoting assessable services for Deaf and Deafblind people in Surrey. Commitment to person centred working, excellent communication and IT skills, the ability to work flexibly, as part of a team, collaborate effectively with others, and an enthusiastic 'can do' approach are essential.,

• To deliver specialist social work service for people who are Deaf BSL, hard of hearing, deafened, Deafblind and their family/carers.
• To work in partnership with people and carers to assess needs, identify outcomes and plan support to meet these.
• To be the lead contact for partner agencies sharing professional knowledge and expertise in specialist social work advice.
• To provide supervision and line management to a small team including Social Workers and Social Care Assistants.
Principle Accountabilities:
• To deliver a person-centred, strength based, service for those who are Deaf BSL, hard of hearing, deafened, Deafblind and their family/carers, support networks and other professionals.
• To complete and oversee comprehensive specialist assessments (including risk assessments) of needs, planning towards a person's identified outcomes.
• To provide support that develops and/or maintains communication, safety and promotes independence.
• To assist in the explanation of the charging policy, including gathering information to calculate contributions or payment.
• To signpost to advocacy services ensuring access is available whenever necessary, appropriate, or requested.
• To work in partnership with internal and external professionals to deliver a holistic service provision.
• To participate in the duty cover providing appropriate and timely response to those in crisis and coordinating interventions to mitigate risk.
• To provide appropriate information, advice, and support in relation to a person's deafness, and how this is affecting their life direct to the person, their family/carers and to professional partners.
• To coordinate, review and allocate referrals across the support team.
• Prevent, detect, and respond to safeguarding concerns, implementing safeguarding policies and procedures for people who may be/are at risk.
• To provide regular supervision to a social worker and social care assistant/s.
• To support the team development through shared learning, reflection practice, and continuous professional development (CPD) delivering best practice.
• Ensure appropriate and timely record keeping enabling effective communication and professional accountability.
• Contribute towards monitoring and evaluation, including both quantitative and qualitative data collection.
• To adhere to the financial controls for the provision of equipment to people we support.
• To adhere to the organisation health and safety policies including the lone working policy and procedures.
  
  You must be a Registered Qualified Social Worker with an up-to-date registration. If you are not fluent in BSL, we will be supporting you with learning BSL and you will be able to access interpreters. We welcome registered qualified social workers applications from the Deaf Community who can sign up to BSL level 2., Experience and qualifications in Social Work, CQSW, DipSW, BA Hons, MA or equivalent.
• Qualified Registered social worker - registered with Social Work England
• Excellent communication skills with people who are Deaf BSL, hard of hearing, deafened, Deafblind and their family/carers in their chosen communication method e.g. using sign language, clear speech, Esendex, SMS text, skype/Facetime.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of best practice of supporting people who are Deaf BSL, hard of hearing, deafened, Deafblind and their families and carers.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the relevant legislative framework in supporting people with sensory loss, including the Care Act, Safeguarding etc.
• Experience of providing supervision to a support workers/ student.
• Have a working knowledge and application of the social model of disability.
• Have a working knowledge of relevant external agencies for people who are Deaf BSL, hard of hearing, deafened, Deafblind and their families and carers.
• Competent with the use of databases and Microsoft Office Packages.
• Ability to communicate in British Sign Language skills - BSL level 2 or above is desirable (or the willingness to learn), Office based. Able to travel across the county and deliver a service in different environments suitable for the task. For example, in a person's homes, care home, hospital, Deaf Café, community hub.
  
  Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey has been established over 100 years and is the major provider of services for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, partially sighted, and deafblind in Surrey.
  
  The starting salary for this role is £40,000 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.
Rewards and Benefits
• A generous annual leave allowance (full time annual leave entitlement is 28 days per annum, plus bank holidays).
• Investment in your development, with training opportunities available.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Pension contributions matched up to 6% using the Pensions Trust.
• Annual flu vaccinations and an eye test every two years with a contribution towards work related glasses.
• Wide range of training opportunities suitable for your role.
• A growing range of other staff benefits.
• A fun and friendly team!