Responsibilities

Overview

Despite the challenges that Adult Social Care has faced within the last 12 months, our approach in Buckinghamshire has not been to take shelter and wait for the storm to pass. Instead, we have chosen to transform and restructure Adult Social Care so we can respond to a crisis as well as build for the future.  We are adapting to work much more closely with the community and support people near to where they live; we have developed a new career progression framework to encourage staff ambition and development; finally, to establish the conditions to deliver outstanding practice, we have reduced the numbers that managers supervise and the caseloads the team have, to allow for more contact with our residents.

Initiated in 2019, our strength-based practice model, ‘Better Lives’, has been improving outcomes linked to independence, developing social connections, and improving areas that are important to the residents we support. Now in 2021, we are looking to refresh our Better Lives Strategy and develop our aspirations further.

About the role

To ensure the highest standards of service are provided to the residents of Buckinghamshire, Advanced Practitioners will ensure:

• Work in accordance with the Better Lives framework
• Promote and deliver goal-based support people to achieve greater independence
• Promote equality as an integral part of a role and treat everyone with fairness and dignity
• Provides a proactive personalised approach to the delivery of care and practice
• Respond to people’s needs in a timely manner
• Focus on improving people’s well-being
• Give people greater choice and control over the care that they receive
• Take account of people’s risks and safety at all times, identifying mitigations to reduce that risk
• Support people to achieve the outcomes that are most important to them using all available resources and taking responsibility for the public purse
• Provide personalised information and advice, safeguarding, assessment, support planning and review to individuals/families and their carers

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements*.

*subject to current Government Covid-19 Guidance

About you

Naturally, you will be a great people person, familiar with working to a strength-based approach where you think outside of the box and enable people to prevent, reduce or delay the need for care. Bringing your in-depth knowledge of the latest legislation and statutory guidance, you’ll work independently and with colleagues to support adults and their families. Persistence and an adaptable approach are needed in an outcome focused way with our partners such as health services, community sector, housing, care providers and other stakeholders.

We welcome individuals looking to return to social work and offer a return to social work programme assessment and support process. Should this be something of interest to you please contact the Learning and Wellbeing Hub via email at learninghub@buckinghamshire.gov.uk to arrange an informal chat or to find out more information.

If you'd like to hear from some of our current social workers and social care staff, take a look at our careers social media pages Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram

Person Specification

Essential:

• Substantial experience and evidence of undertaking direct work with vulnerable adults in a statutory setting and in relationship and strengths-based practice, working collaboratively with adults and their families.
• Proven experience in one or more areas of practice and have a broader knowledge of local and national resource networks
• Detailed knowledge and experience in the application of relevant procedural and legislative frameworks, statutory guidance, standards and local policies and procedures in accordance to the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act.
• Ability to demonstrate awareness of legislation relating to General Data Protection Regulations and Freedom of Information.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in the application of relevant theoretical frameworks, practice models and research findings.
• Ability to use advanced theoretical/ practical/procedural/organisational/legal knowledge across a specialist area.
• Planning and workload management skills
• Social Work Advanced Practitioner - Qualified Social Worker 
•  Occupational Therapist Advanced Practitioner - a minimum of a 2:1 BSC degree in Occupational Therapy or COT Diploma qualification or equivalent 
• Successful completion of qualifying year together with two years post qualifying experience of working with adults 
• Full driving licence with access to a vehicle 
• Registration with Social Work England or HCPC 
• Commitment to continuous professional development 
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to individual and reflective supervision 
• Work flexibly where needed to facilitate seven day working 
• An understanding of Social Work England’s/ HCPC’s professional standards and a commitment to upholding them in your practice 

In order to view the full essential and desirable skills for this role, please follow the link to our job website where you will find the job summary attached. 

Desirable:

• Working towards a specialist area of work, e.g. Practice Educator, DoLs assessor, AMPH, specialist moving and handling

In order to view the full essential and desirable skills for this role, please follow the link to our job website where you will find the job summary attached.