Social Worker - Project R

Project R was established to provide a dedicated resource responsible for delivering planned Care Act reviews, ensuring that care and support arrangements continue to meet people's needs, remain proportionate to eligible need and respond appropriately to any changes in circumstances. In addition, the team provides flexible capacity to support provider failure responses, safeguarding-related review activity and targeted review programmes.

The project supports Community Assessment Services to move from a largely reactive approach to a more proactive, planned and sustainable review model, ultimately improving outcomes for the people we support while strengthening our statutory responsibilities.

We are looking for motivated, enthusiastic and committed Social Workers to join Project R and play an important role in delivering high-quality, person-centred statutory reviews across Adult Social Care.

As a Social Worker within Project R, you will be responsible for managing an allocated caseload and undertaking timely, comprehensive and strengths-based Care Act reviews, ensuring that people's care and support arrangements continue to meet their assessed eligible needs and promote independence, choice and control.

You will work directly with individuals, their families, carers, advocates and care providers to understand their experiences, wishes and outcomes, identifying what is working well, where needs have changed and whether existing care arrangements remain appropriate.

A key focus of the role will be ensuring that care and support packages are proportionate to assessed eligible needs, promote independence and demonstrate best value. You will be expected to exercise professional curiosity, critically evaluate information provided by care providers and consider alternative approaches to meeting needs, including opportunities for reablement, assistive technology, community resources and more effective use of existing support arrangements.

You will undertake Mental Capacity Assessments and best interests decision-making where required, identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, and ensure that any restrictions on individuals' rights and freedoms are necessary, proportionate and legally justified.

You will be responsible for completing accurate and timely case recording, statutory review documentation, updated care and support plans and associated financial processes, ensuring that decisions are evidence-based, clearly recorded and compliant with relevant legislation and local procedures.

Working within a busy, performance-focused team, you will be expected to organise and prioritise your workload effectively, progress allocated reviews within agreed timescales and maintain clear communication with the Senior Practitioner and Team Manager regarding progress, emerging risks and any barriers to completion.

You will also contribute to targeted review programmes and service improvement initiatives, working collaboratively with colleagues across Adult Social Care, Occupational Therapy, Reablement, Technology Enabled Care, Commissioning and other partner organisations to identify opportunities to improve outcomes and support the sustainable delivery of services.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a developing project, contribute to improving statutory review performance and make a meaningful difference to people's lives through high-quality, strengths-based social work practice.

You will be a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England, with experience of working within Adult Social Care and a sound understanding of relevant statutory responsibilities, including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, safeguarding and associated legislation.

You will have experience of undertaking person-centred assessments, reviews and care and support planning, with the ability to analyse complex information, identify risks and make proportionate, evidence-based professional decisions.

You will demonstrate a strong commitment to strengths-based practice, promoting independence and ensuring that individuals are actively involved in decisions about their care and support.

You will be confident working with individuals, families, carers, advocates and providers, using effective communication, professional curiosity and constructive challenge to ensure that care arrangements remain appropriate and responsive to changing needs. You will have a good understanding of mental capacity and best interests decision-making, safeguarding responsibilities and the importance of promoting people's rights, choice and control.

Strong organisational and time-management skills are essential, together with the ability to manage an allocated caseload, meet agreed timescales and maintain accurate, high-quality case recording within a busy working environment. You will be confident identifying opportunities to promote independence, exploring alternative ways of meeting eligible needs and ensuring that care and support arrangements are proportionate, sustainable and demonstrate best value.

You will be proactive, reflective and solution-focused, with a willingness to contribute to team discussions, share learning, respond positively to feedback and seek professional advice and supervision when required.

Above all, you will be committed to delivering high-quality social work practice, working collaboratively with colleagues and partner organisations, and ensuring that the wishes, rights, wellbeing and outcomes of the people we support remain central to your work.

Working for us, you can expect to be part of a supportive and developing team, with regular supervision, opportunities for professional development and the chance to contribute to innovative approaches to statutory reviews and wider service improvement.

We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies detailed within this Recruitment Pack

Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact the Team Manager: melanie.wooding@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 03003004368

Central Bedfordshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees, volunteers and contractors to share this commitment. This post is subject to the disclosure of criminal records.

To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.

Your application to us is a reflection of who you are professionally and should give us an accurate and authentic picture of your skills, experiences and if applicable qualifications. Before you submit your application, we will ask you to confirm if you have used AI.

All new starters will join us on a four‑month probationary period. During this time, if you are offered a Hybrid role you will be required to attend a Central Bedfordshire Council office location more frequently to support thorough and well‑supported onboarding into your role. Please keep this in mind if you anticipate extensive travel to Central Bedfordshire.

Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy (BESA) provides free employability support and training courses.

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successful applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract offered.