Social Worker- Benefits & Homeless Prevention Service

Experienced Qualified Social Workers – PO2-PO3

Newly Qualified Social Workers who will progress with their ASYE – PO1

In Hackney our vision is building on strengths and making connections. This isn’t just about our practice with residents, but about our staff. We believe that our relationships with each other and our colleagues makes working here different, constantly seeking to build our personal and professional strengths and to find that role that challenges and excites. Where it is easy to remember what ignited our desire to become social workers in the first place.

We are clear in our value of work life balance, with manageable caseloads and flexible working. Our sites in different locations and expansion planned with health colleagues means touchdown points that enable you to connect with residents, while being part of the buzz that is Hackney. Importantly, our development offer is different. Development is not just about a training course, it is the range of mentoring, shadowing, and opportunities to try new things and challenge yourself. It is an offer that helps you reach your full potential, with career pathways that are possible.

Are you a qualified Social Worker who’s passionate about helping people achieve the very best outcomes? Do you have experience working within Adult Services and want to take the next step in your professional development? If so, Hackney needs your skills and expertise to make a positive impact on the lives of people who live, work, and grow here.

Newly Qualified Social workers are encouraged to apply

Hackney’s Adult Social Care Social Worker role provides an opportunity for newly qualified social workers to undertake their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) within our adult service which is committed to providing high quality support, assessment and intervention with the residents, carers and families we work with.

Hackney provides wide-ranging and excellent training and development opportunities; we will help you to develop excellent social work practice, leading to career advancement at your own pace.

Newly qualified social workers will enter at grade PO1 and will undertake all work with support, close supervision and guidance and will have a reduced caseload.

Upon successful completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme, Social Workers will automatically move to PO2 payscale.

Hackney is one of London’s most vibrant and diverse boroughs. It’s one of the most sought after areas to live in London with good schools, parks and local amenities, as well as great transport links and vibrant and diverse communities.

We offer a great place to work with a working environment which is stimulating, creative, fast moving and supportive. Staff can access a range of benefits including:

– An outstanding range of local support services supporting you to make a difference for vulnerable adults, carers and their families

– The opportunity to build/shape your career in social work through our excellent training offer to staff including Mentoring and Coaching programmes, an Advanced Study Programme, our trauma informed and strengths based training offer, our online training and development hub and annual Hackney Stars awards

– Financial support for staff through our Tenancy deposit loan scheme, low cost loans, early access to pay and Childcare vouchers

– An excellent location with the ability to travel easily and cycle around the borough, accessing our Cycle to Work scheme

– Flexible working options including working remotely, buying annual leave scheme and flexible working

– Staff discount scheme (vectis card and local discounts across the borough including gyms, theatres and restaurants)

– An outstanding focus on Health and Wellbeing including discounted gym membership, eye tests, Employee Assistance Programme and a range of carer and family friendly leave options.

As a Social Worker for Hackney Adult Social Care, you will be able to access an outstanding range of local support services, supporting you to make a real difference for the residents, carers and families you work with. You will be working at the forefront of best practice in a social work unit led by a Senior Practitioner and with support from the newly created Practice Innovation and Workforce Capability Team who will be supporting your training and development needs. We will help you to develop your skills within social work practice, leading to career advancement at your own pace.

About the Role

If you are an experienced qualified social work professional or a newly qualified social worker who is keen to deliver, support and develop exceptional practice in a supportive and creative environment then we want to hear from you.

As a social worker you will:

– Connect with people meaningfully and be supported to make legally literate decisions.
– Be part of a team but with autonomy and belief in your professional judgement.
– Be able to undertake assessments with people, balancing those fine lines around risk and proportionality, but working together through a health and social care neighbourhood approach to do the right thing with residents
– Use your social work principles and values to guide what you do, working in a trauma informed and strengths based way and applying anti-racist practice.

We’re looking for compassionate and ambitious Social Workers who have experience working with adults, including those with physical and mental health needs, learning disabilities, and older people. You should have a good understanding of the relevant legislation and policy that guides our work and be able to work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to deliver effective services.

We are looking for a Social Worker for the Benefits and Homeless Prevention Service:

Hackney Council is looking for a Social Worker to join the Benefits and Homeless Prevention Service (BHPS) – on a full-time basis of 36 hours per week.

The Benefits and Homeless Prevention Service Complex Needs Team provides holistic assistance to Hackney Residents who present as homeless either from various institutions or those who approach the Council directly for homelessness assistance.

This is an exciting and unique role, in which you will play an integral role ensuring vulnerable Hackney residents have all the relevant assessments carried out, and that the necessary care plans are available for the BHPS to be able to make informed and safe decisions on any temporary or settled housing options. This role will also be exploring all the alternative housing options available to residents where eligible care and support needs have been identified.

This role will act as the liaison between Adult Social Care and BHPS, supporting BHPS frontline officers to continue building on their confidence and ability to support homeless applicants who increasingly are presenting with multiple disadvantages and often with complexities. You will also get to plan and deliver creative learning sessions for the BHPS staff on topics such as the Care Act.

An enhanced DBS check is required

Candidates must hold a Social Work England recognised social work qualification or equivalent, be Social Work England registered and have evidence of continuing professional development.

You should also be committed to continuous professional development and be willing to contribute to the development of the service and the wider council through your practice. You should have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, be able to manage your own workload, and have a flexible approach to working.

We want to make Hackney a place for everyone. If you’re passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of adults in Hackney and committed to delivering high-quality social care, we’d love to hear from you.

The role will also offer professional views and contributions to some of the most challenging resident cases in the Homeless, Health and Housing (HHH) MDT that the BHPS chairs monthly, and assist the service to build up our library of impactful case studies.

This role requires extensive experience within an adult social care setting combined with experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Experience of carrying out full Care Act Assessments (CAA) and writing reports is also essential for this role.

You will be Social Work England registered and have a CQSW/DIPSW and AMHP qualification or equivalent. Evidence of continual professional development is also key to this role.

There is no better place to work in London than Hackney; we have great pride in our borough, our communities, and our services. Hackney is one of London’s most vibrant and diverse boroughs. It’s one of the most sought after areas to live in London with good schools, parks and local amenities, as well as great transport links and vibrant and diverse communities.

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

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 05 May 2025 (22.59)

Interview and assessment date: 15 May 2025

We are also working towards our 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 age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. 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