Job summary
About this opportunity
Were looking for passionate, driven Social Workers to join our Learning Disability, Transition and Autism Team, part of the Westmorland and Furness Councils Adult Social Care Service.
This role will include assessing the needs and outcomes of people with a learning disability, young people moving into adulthood and people with autism. Our focus is to provide a person-centred approach, working with individuals to achieve positive outcomes and to continuously promote a preventative and strength-based approach in line with the Councils vision and values.
The role will also involve supporting individuals whose needs may present as complex and who require effective risk management planning, to enhance their quality of life. You will require the ability to effectively plan and show innovation in practice, and in demonstrating good communication skills when responding to the needs of the individuals we support and their carers, as well as our internal and external partners.
We apply a career grade system to our Social Worker roles, meaning your starting salary will depend on your competencies, experience, and qualifications. We then support staff to progress through the career grade in line with their development against the requirements at each step of the grade.
Main duties of the job
Who we are looking for
We are looking for the right people, with the right values and behaviours to join our teams across Adult Social Care. Wed like to hear more about you, your motivations, interests and values on your application, including what attracted you to this role.
We are keen to recruit individuals who have demonstratable experience in a similar role, and of case-load management and planning/implementation of interventions. You will need a strong knowledge and understanding of relevant national legislation and professional standards, as well as organisational governance frameworks.
You will need an accredited Social Worker Degree and have the relevant professional registration.
About us
What can we offer you!
Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site.Our benefits | Careers (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)
Application and Interview information
Closing date: 31/07/2025
Interview date: 19/08/2025
We are currently operating both in-person and virtual interviews. Options will be discussed with candidates once they have been invited to the interview stage of the process for this specific position, and if you have any concerns or adjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss this with you.
Westmorland and Furness Council are now able to offer sponsorship for Skilled Worker Visa applications for eligible roles. Please note, we cannot guarantee the eligibility of all of our roles, therefore, if you would like more information on roles that may be eligible please visit the government website - Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes -/ GOV.UK.
Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with adults and/or Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with adults and/or Children.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Job Specific Accountabilities
- Be a case holding social worker, undertaking care management, strengths-based social work
assessments, capacity assessments and Best Interest Assessments/Decisions with individuals
and their carers, ensuring the development and delivery of personalised support to meet the
Councils statutory obligations.
- Use professional judgement to ensure the implementation of effective risk management
strategies to support adults at risk which may include Safeguarding Adults enquiries.
- Act as a point of contact that people can access for support in navigating their way through the
care and support system.
- Work in line with relevant national legislation and professional standards, as well as
organisational governance frameworks.
- Keep up with developments in relevant legislative requirements and best practice guidance, seek
out opportunities for CPD and attend organised training as required.
- Contribute to developing professional practice and delivery of service by working with others
including internal and external stakeholders, contributing to service planning and formulation of
ASC policies, making recommendations for improvements, cooperating with change, to ensure
standards are maintained and improved, successes are shared lessons are learned.
- Carry out any other duties commensurate with the role as requested by management
Key Facts and Figures of the Post
- Budget Responsibilities: Working with internal and external colleagues to ensure
appropriate sharing and coordinating of resources where applicable.to ensure services work
within agreed budgets and both corporate and statutory policy guidelines and practices
- Staff Management Responsibilities: To act as a mentor and support and offer guidance
regarding practices, policies and procedures to team members students and less
experienced staff.
- Other: To make the most effective use of available resources, particularly those which lie
within local communities
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Job Specific Accountabilities
- Be a case holding social worker, undertaking care management, strengths-based social work
assessments, capacity assessments and Best Interest Assessments/Decisions with individuals
and their carers, ensuring the development and delivery of personalised support to meet the
Councils statutory obligations.
- Use professional judgement to ensure the implementation of effective risk management
strategies to support adults at risk which may include Safeguarding Adults enquiries.
- Act as a point of contact that people can access for support in navigating their way through the
care and support system.
- Work in line with relevant national legislation and professional standards, as well as
organisational governance frameworks.
- Keep up with developments in relevant legislative requirements and best practice guidance, seek
out opportunities for CPD and attend organised training as required.
- Contribute to developing professional practice and delivery of service by working with others
including internal and external stakeholders, contributing to service planning and formulation of
ASC policies, making recommendations for improvements, cooperating with change, to ensure
standards are maintained and improved, successes are shared lessons are learned.
- Carry out any other duties commensurate with the role as requested by management
Key Facts and Figures of the Post
- Budget Responsibilities: Working with internal and external colleagues to ensure
appropriate sharing and coordinating of resources where applicable.to ensure services work
within agreed budgets and both corporate and statutory policy guidelines and practices
- Staff Management Responsibilities: To act as a mentor and support and offer guidance
regarding practices, policies and procedures to team members students and less
experienced staff.
- Other: To make the most effective use of available resources, particularly those which lie
within local communities
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Essential Criteria
- *Accredited Social Work Degree or equivalent Professional Social Work qualification
- *Registration with appropriate professional body
- *Evidence of ongoing professional development/CPD within the last 2 years
- *Evidence of successful completion of, or working towards ASYE
- *Knowledge and application of departmental and council objectives and initiatives
- *In depth knowledge and understanding of own professional area of practice and issues within Adults Services
- *Evidence of extended relevant working experience including independent assessment and delivery of support
- *Understanding and application of theoretical approaches, practices & procedures relevant to customers, carers, professional colleagues
- *Knowledge of National Policies and legislation relevant to area of work.
- *Experience of case-load management and planning/implementation of interventions for allocated cases
- *Ability to manage cases in which complex and contentious circumstances arise
- * Ability to balance risk and safety
- * Having an awareness and understanding of risk with the ability to escalate appropriately
- *Contribute to work planning and resource allocation
- * Ability to influence people to change and to make difficult decisions
- *Change management within a positive framework, timescales and budget
- *Proven ability to demonstrate sound judgement and autonomy of decision making in highly unpredictable situations.
- *Good interpersonal skills including negotiating, conciliating, people management and motivational skills
- *Good communication skills written, verbal in a range of situations working with customers, carers, colleagues and stakeholders
- *Ability to create innovative, person centred solutions with customers and their carers
- *Ability to create and maintain a culture that enables and empowers staff and customers alike
- *The ability to plan interventions to be implemented for customers individually
- *Plans for and prioritises own casework
- *Good time management/punctuality and ability to work to deadlines
- *Ability to network effectively with multi-disciplinary organisations
- *Demonstrable information technology skills/competencies.
- *Ability to identify and challenge inappropriate practice
Other Factors
Desirable
- Job Working Circumstances
- * Emotional Demands: Job related actions will periodically cause genuine distress to others or
- in major conflict with their wishes
- *Physical Demands: Normal requirement for county wide travel and carry laptop and small
- pieces of equipment
- *Working Conditions: Specific abusive language and aggressive behaviour witnessed
- regularly, directed at postholder occasionally. Working in an uncontrolled, challenging
- environment, in individuals homes Lone working required
- Other Factors:
- Ability to travel extensively throughout the County
- Some longer journeys for staff visiting people placed out of county.
- Flexible working and home visits required
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Essential Criteria
- *Accredited Social Work Degree or equivalent Professional Social Work qualification
- *Registration with appropriate professional body
- *Evidence of ongoing professional development/CPD within the last 2 years
- *Evidence of successful completion of, or working towards ASYE
- *Knowledge and application of departmental and council objectives and initiatives
- *In depth knowledge and understanding of own professional area of practice and issues within Adults Services
- *Evidence of extended relevant working experience including independent assessment and delivery of support
- *Understanding and application of theoretical approaches, practices & procedures relevant to customers, carers, professional colleagues
- *Knowledge of National Policies and legislation relevant to area of work.
- *Experience of case-load management and planning/implementation of interventions for allocated cases
- *Ability to manage cases in which complex and contentious circumstances arise
- * Ability to balance risk and safety
- * Having an awareness and understanding of risk with the ability to escalate appropriately
- *Contribute to work planning and resource allocation
- * Ability to influence people to change and to make difficult decisions
- *Change management within a positive framework, timescales and budget
- *Proven ability to demonstrate sound judgement and autonomy of decision making in highly unpredictable situations.
- *Good interpersonal skills including negotiating, conciliating, people management and motivational skills
- *Good communication skills written, verbal in a range of situations working with customers, carers, colleagues and stakeholders
- *Ability to create innovative, person centred solutions with customers and their carers
- *Ability to create and maintain a culture that enables and empowers staff and customers alike
- *The ability to plan interventions to be implemented for customers individually
- *Plans for and prioritises own casework
- *Good time management/punctuality and ability to work to deadlines
- *Ability to network effectively with multi-disciplinary organisations
- *Demonstrable information technology skills/competencies.
- *Ability to identify and challenge inappropriate practice
Other Factors
Desirable
- Job Working Circumstances
- * Emotional Demands: Job related actions will periodically cause genuine distress to others or
- in major conflict with their wishes
- *Physical Demands: Normal requirement for county wide travel and carry laptop and small
- pieces of equipment
- *Working Conditions: Specific abusive language and aggressive behaviour witnessed
- regularly, directed at postholder occasionally. Working in an uncontrolled, challenging
- environment, in individuals homes Lone working required
- Other Factors:
- Ability to travel extensively throughout the County
- Some longer journeys for staff visiting people placed out of county.
- Flexible working and home visits required
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
