EDT Social Worker

Job description

Social Worker - Emergency Duty Team

Permanent | 18.5 hours per week | Grade 10 | 30% Out-of-Hours Enhancement

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Social Worker to join the Cheshire West and Chester Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on a permanent, part-time basis.

The Emergency Duty Team provides the Council's statutory out-of-hours social work response, supporting vulnerable children, adults and families across Cheshire West and Chester. Working outside normal office hours, EDT responds to urgent and complex situations where timely assessment, professional judgement and effective decision-making are essential.

We are looking for a qualified and registered Social Worker with suitable post-qualifying experience. An Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) qualification would be particularly welcomed, although we would also encourage applications from experienced Social Workers who would be willing to undertake AMHP training.

As an EDT Social Worker, you will work as part of a small and highly experienced team providing an urgent social work response across both Adults' and Children's Services.

The work is varied and rewarding. You will be required to prioritise competing demands, assess risk and need, and make proportionate, defensible decisions in situations which can be complex and challenging.

You will need to be confident working autonomously while recognising when consultation, escalation or multi-agency collaboration is required. EDT practitioners are supported by experienced colleagues, with Senior Social Worker/Practice Manager and Team Manager support providing strong professional oversight and leadership.

We are particularly interested in Social Workers who have experience across Adults' and/or Children's Services and who understand the statutory responsibilities associated with emergency and out-of-hours social work.

A sound working knowledge of key areas of statutory practice is essential, including:

• Adult safeguarding
• Child protection and safeguarding
• Mental health
• Mental capacity
• Risk assessment and management
• Multi-agency working

You will also require a good understanding of the relevant legislative frameworks, including the Children Act 1989, Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended 2007), Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Care Act 2014.

You should be confident in your professional decision-making, organised and proactive, with strong assessment, communication and recording skills. You will be expected to contribute positively to reflective practice, supervision and the continued development of the team.

Working pattern

The post is 18.5 hours per week and operates within a rolling six-week rota, which runs consecutively and includes evening, overnight, weekend and Bank Holiday working.

The EDT rota provides an attractive alternative working pattern, with periods of time off incorporated within the six-week cycle. As the working pattern is an important part of the role, we would encourage prospective applicants to contact us to discuss the rota and understand how the 18.5-hour vacancy would operate within it.

In recognition of the demands of out-of-hours and overnight working, the post attracts a 30% out-of-hours enhancement in addition to the Grade 10 salary.

EDT operates a hybrid working model. Friday and weekend shifts are undertaken from our central office base in Chester, other shifts may be worked from home in accordance with service requirements. Due to the nature of the role and the requirement to respond effectively across the borough, it is preferable that applicants live within approximately 25 miles of the Chester office base.

Why join Cheshire West and Chester EDT?

Our Social Care workforce is committed to achieving positive outcomes for children, adults and families through consistent, high-quality social work practice, supported by strong leadership and management.

We are particularly proud of the strength and stability of our Emergency Duty Team and the contribution it makes to safeguarding vulnerable people outside normal working hours. The service has been positively recognised within recent inspection activity across both Children's and Adults' Services.

Since 2019, Cheshire West and Chester has developed Our Way of Working alongside our multi-agency partners.

We are committed to supporting and developing our Social Work workforce through:

• High-quality professional supervision
• A strong reflective practice framework
• Excellent learning, development and progression opportunities
• Aspiring and Practice Educator programmes
• Opportunities for continued professional development within a supportive and experienced service

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Social Worker who enjoys autonomous practice, values professional challenge and wants to work within a supportive, established team providing an essential service to vulnerable children and adults.

For further information, or for an informal discussion about the role and the six-week rota, please contact:

Kristy Thomas
EDT Team Manager
Cheshire West and Chester Council
[email protected]

01244 973050