Social Worker ( New Malden Hub )

Job Description

About the Borough

Nestled between the capital and the countryside in South West London, Kingston has a unique and rich history. It is the birthplace of the first English monarchs and the first place in England to be established as a Royal Borough.

Today, Kingston thrives as a dynamic and culturally diverse area with a rich history and strong community spirit. The town centre, with its riverside setting, excellent shopping options, historic market square and church, as well as its parks and gardens, is a vibrant space. Each district town centre – Surbiton, New Malden, Tolworth, and Chessington – offers its own distinctive charm.

Kingston is well-connected, located in Zone 6 with direct train links from Kingston and Surbiton stations to Clapham Junction, London Waterloo, and Wimbledon, where you can connect to the London Underground and Tramlink.

The people of Kingston are innovative, entrepreneurial, and proud of their community. With a long history of industry and creativity, Kingston is home to notable institutions such as the Rose Theatre, the International Youth Arts Festival, and Kingston University, which leads the UK in new graduate business start-ups.

The generosity and compassion of Kingston’s residents were particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing the borough’s strong sense of community. The council remains committed to supporting vulnerable individuals and those in need, a priority that has grown significantly in recent years. As the population ages, we are working with residents to help them live independently while adapting our services to meet increasing demand.

Kingston is home to a broad mix of cultures, including a large Sri Lankan Tamil community and the largest population of Koreans in the UK, contributing to its vibrant cultural fabric.

About the Role and Ideal Candidate

To succeed in this role, you must demonstrate strong communication, assessment, and case management skills. You should be well-organized and able to manage a varied caseload effectively. Experience with local safeguarding procedures and knowledge of the London Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy and Procedures is essential, as well as an up-to-date understanding of relevant legislation, social care priorities, and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct assessments and support planning for adults with physical health needs, in line with the Care Act 2014.
• Review service users’ needs regularly and ensure the necessary support is provided within statutory timescales.
• Manage cases, including safeguarding investigations, with varying levels of complexity and risk.
• Collaborate with health and social care colleagues to create person-centred support plans.
• Make appropriate referrals to relevant services.
• Determine funding routes, including ASC, CHC, Section 117, and joint social care and health funding.
• Utilize available resources effectively and offer information, advice, and signposting to other services.

About You:

• A graduate or postgraduate qualification in Social Work.
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong assessment and case management skills.
• Knowledge of Personal Budgets/Self-Directed Support.
• A solid understanding of relevant legislation and social care initiatives.

About Us

The New Malden Hub is part of Kingston’s Adult Social Care team. We are one of three locality teams supporting adults with physical health needs. Our team consists of social workers and support coordinators dedicated to delivering interventions for individuals aged 18 and over, with a primary focus on older adults and those with physical disabilities.

Our approach is proactive and empowering, collaborating closely with individuals and their carers to create support plans that focus on positive outcomes. We also work with the Reablement service to enhance people’s independence and quality of life.

The role offers the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals, working within a varied caseload and utilizing support from specialist practitioners across other areas of the service.

Our Offer to You

At the Royal Borough of Kingston, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative environment where you can grow professionally. We encourage you to bring your ideas forward to help improve our working practices, with full support from your colleagues and our experienced management team.

We offer a modern, flexible working environment, with tools such as Google Chromebooks and Google Apps that enable collaborative and streamlined working. Our hybrid working model allows staff to work from various locations, offering flexibility to achieve a work-life balance while still meeting the needs of the organisation.

Employee benefits include:

• Generous annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Three volunteering days per year in Kingston.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Comprehensive learning and development opportunities.
• Discounts at local businesses, gyms, and leisure centres.
• Interest-free season ticket loans.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Bicycle loan schemes and cycle-to-work options.
• Zip car scheme.
• Free eye tests and glasses contributions.
• Confidential wellbeing and counselling support.
• Subsidised gym membership.

Application Process

To apply, please submit your application online, detailing how your skills, experience, and abilities make you an ideal candidate for this role. Ensure you address the specific requirements outlined in the job profile.

We encourage early applications, as the closing date is a guideline, and we may close the vacancy once we receive sufficient applications.

At Kingston, we are committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Our hiring process ensures fairness, with personal details anonymized during shortlisting to prevent bias. We are proud to have been recognized for our inclusive approach and strive to make our recruitment process as accessible and diverse as possible.

Additional Information

Kingston is a borough that celebrates diversity and strives to create a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, especially those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and disabled communities, who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee interviews for disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role. We also offer family-friendly, inclusive policies and flexible working arrangements to support a diverse workforce.

We are an accredited London Living Wage Employer, ensuring fair pay for all employees, including contractors and suppliers.

Please refer to the GOV.UK website for guidance on the new points-based immigration sponsorship system affecting EU and non-EU workers.

Important Information – Criminal Records

This position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, meaning a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required before an offer of employment can be made. The DBS helps ensure safer recruitment decisions and protects vulnerable groups.