Senior Social Worker – Adult Social Care

Hackney Council is an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Anti-Racism framework which was formally adopted in February 2024. See plans, policies and strategies – Anti-racism framework.

Hackney has a strong strengths-based and person-centred approach in

which we prioritise maintaining and promoting people’s independence, and we are very proud that as a result, 85% of the people who use our services live in the community. 78.8% of our residents live independently after receiving reablement support and 89.4% of older residents live at home 91 days after a hospital discharge, outcomes which are higher than the London average.

We’re serious about collaboration and co- production and we work in better and more innovative ways because of this. For example, we’ve built strong connections with our Hackney Council colleagues in Housing and in Benefits and Homeless Prevention (for example in the Health, Housing, and Homelessness Panel and in multidisciplinary team approaches that are ensuring adults facing multiple vulnerabilities receive holistic support).

We believe accessible learning opportunities are crucial to our performance and our staff’s wellbeing and have a dedicated Practice Innovation and Workforce Capability team who work closely with the Principal Social Worker to develop our Continuous Professional Development offer.

About the Role

Our Senior Social Worker – Workforce and Practice Development role will focus on the development of, and lead on, our programmes for newly qualified social workers (the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment – ASYE), social work apprentices, student social workers and practice education. The post holder will drive service improvement and work to strengthen practitioner confidence and experience.

This role sits within the Practice Innovation and Workforce Capability Team which is part of the wider Transformation Service in ASC. You will be part of a small but expanding, dynamic and forward-looking team which is led by the Principal Social Worker, continually evolving and looking for opportunities to innovate.

Hackney has an adult social care practice framework which will support you to adapt your interventions to each individual you work with. So you’ll need to be a proactive person, with a creative approach to working with service users and their families.

The team’s vision is set out in the workforce development strategy 2024-27.

You will be required to be:

– an experienced social worker who wants to use your frontline practice knowledge and experience to support the next generation of social workers

– will have statutory experience within a Local Authority setting

– will be organised and have an eye for detail to support the review and development of a structured programme of support for newly qualified social workers and student social workers

– will be analytical and have a good understanding of the national context and needs of newly qualified social workers

– will be a Practice Educator and have confidence and experience in providing direct support and supervision to students and/or those undertaking their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)

– will have strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information in a concise and accessible format.

In this post, you will be expected to learn and understand our practice framework and ensure you uphold these in all aspects of your work.

What do we offer?

Hackney Adult Social Care (ASC) has been through a significant transformation over the last few years and has improved the way it works with its residents and supports its staff. A new Practice Framework for ASC has been created, supporting staff to deliver strengths based, anti-racist and trauma informed services to all our residents. Hackney ASC’s three year plan 2023-26 sets out our four guiding principles that guide us as we work towards our vision for Adult Social Care. These principles include being easy to access, preventative, personal to you and good quality and safe. Hackney ASC is proud of its commitment to promoting independence, tackling inequality and continually improving.

We value our staff and offer a competitive benefits package including hybrid working, a mobile phone and home computer, coaching and mentoring opportunities, a competitive salary, excellent pension scheme, generous annual leave entitlements (including Bank Holidays) and a strong Employee Assistance Programme including support around racialised trauma.

We also offer:

– season ticket loans

– cycle to work scheme (with secure bike lock up)

– tenancy deposit loan scheme

– discounted gym membership offer

– Blue Light Savings Card, Vectis Card and CSSC Membership Discount Offer

– buying extra annual leave offer

– payment for eye tests

– flexible working

– local discounts and discounts at big brand name stores via our Staff Offers website.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our businesses and residents and the opportunity of working here excites you, please click on the apply button below.

The recruitment process is anonymous. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CVs.

When applying, there will be a number of questions relating to the post on the application form. It is essential that you complete the application questions, responding to each using examples of your skills, knowledge and experience.

We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions or any part of the application form.

This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Closing date for applications: 20 July 2025 (22:59 pm)

Assessment / Interview dates: Week commencing: 4 August 2025

We are also working towards our corporate vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk