Job Introduction
Senior Social Worker - Transitions (Ref: ASC/26/042/LLS)
Directorate: People (Childrens, Adults, Public Health, Education and SEND)
Department: Adults’ Services
Salary: Range 3 Level A (£47,435 per annum)
Hours: 37 per week
Location: Gun Wharf
Working style:
Hybrid – Works part from Gun Wharf and part from home.
Closing Date: 02/08/2026
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Adult Social Care Transitions Team. We are currently recruiting 1 full time senior social workers to joint this team. As the Senior Social Worker, you will be required to contribute to the delivery of a highly effective Adult Social Care service in an efficient manner.
We are a dedicated team who provides support to young people transitioning from children's services into adult social care. Our mission is to empower young people aged 17-25 to navigate this critical phase of their life with confidence. You will need to apply a strength-based approach in your practice and have good understanding of safeguarding principles and the Mental Capacity Act. You will work closely with individuals, their families, and other professionals, including Children’s Social Care, SEND and Housing to ensure a smooth and positive transition.
You will ensure the service is delivered using a strengths based, personalised approach and lead on agreed areas of quality assurance and audit activity – ensuring that multiple and complex sources of information (e.g. complaints, safeguarding adult reviews, audits etc.) are gathered, analysed, and used to direct quality improvement activity.
You will be responsible for the professional supervision and oversee a team of social care staff ensuring improvement activity with the service is driven by but not limited to training, coaching and mentoring, peer support workshops. You will provide oversight, professional advice and guidance to the team whilst maintaining your own complex case load. You will be required to work autonomously within the role, demonstrating expert and effective practice in complex situations managing higher levels of risk in a way that ensures the safeguarding and welfare of service users.
You will work within organisational policy and legislative requirements including The Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act. You will research and develop practice guidance, training materials and best practice toolkits in line with local and national policy and ensure that these are understood and adopted operationally.
You will be required to develop good practice guidance and tools within a specialist area of the service ensuring learning is shared across all professionals to improve practice and achieve better outcome for our service users.
You will represent the local authority in a range of key meetings, panels and groups, ensuring follow up on agreed actions and work closely with colleagues within the council and external partners ensuring that person centred outcomes are met.
This role will also involve undertaking Mental Capacity Assessments, taking part in Best Interest meeting and complete Cop DOL applications and renewals as required.
You will also be expected to complete Section 42 Safeguarding Enquiries (Care Act 2014) and act as the role of Designated Safeguarding Officer.
You will also be required to consider alternative funding arrangements, with the ICB, including Continuing Healthcare and S117 aftercare
The successful post holder will be subject to an Enhanced Adults’ DBS check.
In return we will offer you:
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Generous annual leave entitlement
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Generous local government pension scheme package
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Access to wider training and development qualifications
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Flexible working scheme
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Travel plan discounts
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Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
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Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.
When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.
The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:
Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.
Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.
Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.
Level A
Transitions are seeking a Senior Social Worker to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.
Important Information
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Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria which are essential for appointment to the role.
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For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
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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.
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Please note, we prioritise applications from current Medway Council redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.
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We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
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.
