Senior Health Care Social Worker
Purpose of the Role
The Senior Health Care Social Worker plays a key leadership role within the care team, supporting high‑quality, person‑centred care for all Residents. Working under the direction of the Registered Manager, the Senior Carer ensures safe practice, effective care delivery, compassionate support, and responsive service provision. The Senior Carer acts as a role model for Carers and supports the home in meeting the CQC’s 5 Key Pillars: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well‑Led.
CQC 5 Pillars – Senior Carer Responsibilities
1. SAFE
The Senior Carer supports safe care delivery by:
- Ensuring safeguarding practices are followed and escalating concerns promptly.
- Supporting safe staffing on shift by monitoring skill mix and reporting gaps to the Registered Manager.
- Administering and supporting medication in line with policy and training.
- Maintaining accurate care records, incident reports, and daily documentation.
- Monitoring residents’ wellbeing and reporting changes immediately.
- Ensuring infection control, hygiene, and safety standards are upheld at all times.
- Supporting new staff through induction and ensuring they understand safe working practices.
2. EFFECTIVE
The Senior Carer contributes to effective care by:
- Delivering evidence‑based, person‑centred care in line with care plans.
- Supporting the Registered Manager with supervision of Carers and ensuring competency in daily tasks.
- Updating care plans and records when residents’ needs change, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to support integrated care.
- Supporting training, coaching, and development of Carers to maintain high standards.
- Ensuring all care delivery aligns with policies, procedures, and best practice guidance.
3. CARING
The Senior Carer promotes a caring culture by:
- Treating all Residents with dignity, respect, and compassion.
- Building trusting, empathetic relationships with Residents and their families.
- Supporting Residents to maintain independence, choice, and control.
- Ensuring Residents’ voices are heard and their preferences are reflected in care delivery.
- Modelling kindness and empathy to the wider staff team.
4. RESPONSIVE
The Senior Carer ensures the service remains responsive by:
- Monitoring Residents’ changing needs and escalating concerns promptly.
- Supporting personalised care planning and ensuring updates are actioned.
- Responding quickly and professionally to requests, concerns, or complaints.
- Supporting Residents to maintain relationships, routines, and community connections.
- Ensuring activities, engagement, and wellbeing needs are supported on shift.
5. WELL‑LED
The Senior Carer contributes to a well‑led service by:
- Providing leadership, guidance, and support to Carers on shift.
- Acting as a positive role model for professionalism, communication, and conduct.
- Supporting supervision, mentoring, and performance feedback for Carers Including agency Staff.
- Ensuring effective communication across shifts, including handovers and documentation.
- Supporting Manager in maintaining compliance with CQC standards and internal policies.
- Promoting a culture of openness, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities by Timeframe
Timeframe
Responsibilities
Daily
- Lead and support Carers to deliver safe, person-centred care.
- Conduct wellbeing checks and monitor changes in residents’ physical or emotional health.
- Support medication administration in line with policy.
- Maintain accurate care records, daily notes, and incident reports.
- Support personal care, nutrition, hydration, and daily living tasks.
- Communicate effectively with residents, families, and professionals.
- Ensure infection control and hygiene standards are maintained.
Weekly
- Support supervision and coaching of Carers.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute to discussions on care quality and improvements.
- Support weekly audits (care plans, medication, infection control, documentation).
- Assist in updating care plans through spot checks and observations.
- Support weekly communication updates for residents and staff.
Monthly
- Participate in monthly audits and quality checks.
- Contribute to wellbeing and engagement updates for residents.
- Support planning of activities, events, and seasonal engagement.
- Assist with onboarding and induction of new staff.
- Contribute to the annual engagement plan for Residents, Families
Role‑Specific Duties
- Ensure residents remain at the heart of care delivery whilst upholding Confidentiality
- Supervise Carers and ensure high standards of practice.
- Support residents with personal care, mobility, nutrition, and daily living.
- Administer medication safely and accurately.
- Act as a key point of contact for residents, families, and visitors.
- Promote and protect the welfare of all individuals supported by the service.
- Support mock inspections and contribute to improvement action plans.
Working With others
- Build effective working relationships with colleagues.
- Work collaboratively with nurses, managers, and external professionals.
- Support communication with families and ensure concerns are escalated appropriately
Personal & Professional Development
- Attend statutory and specialist training.
- Maintain required qualifications (e.g., Level 3 Health & Social Care).
- Work within the relevant Code of Conduct.
- Seek opportunities for continuous learning and development.
Qualifications
- Good written and verbal English
- Level 3 Health & Social Care (or working towards)
- Medication training (mandatory)
- Supervisory/leadership qualification (desirable)
Skills
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Leadership and team support skills
- Ability to maintain and audit care records
- Medication administration competency
- Ability to induct and support new staff
- Problem solving and conflict resolution
- Compassionate, person-centred approach
- Ability to recognise and escalate changes in residents’ needs
Experiences
- Experience in a similar care environment
- Supervisory or senior care experience
- Experience supporting individuals with additional needs
- Knowledge of rota planning and skill mix awareness (desirable)
Value Based Qualities
- Works collaboratively
- Promotes dignity and respect
- Ensures inclusion and equality
- Committed to quality and continuous improvement
- Compassionate and empathetic
- Focused on improving lives and outcomes
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent, Zero hours contract
Pay: £13.50-£13.71 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Flexitime
- Referral programme
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
