Senior Social Worker (temporary)

Job summary

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced social worker to join our interdisciplinary team on a temporary six-month secondment, leading our social work practice across our community and in-patient services. With services continually evolving, we are looking for a motivated, experienced and dynamic clinician to support service development and delivery within our amazing inter-disciplinary team.

Our charitable purpose is to support people affected by life limiting illness, this support looks different for each individual so we are looking for a social worker that can demonstrate truly person-centred approaches, ensuring equity of service delivery leading on initiatives such as clinical volunteering.

The postholder will provide professional leadership, line management of staff and volunteers, and play a pivotal role in the development of services as well as safeguarding and delivery of our EDI strategy by supporting under represented populations such as the homeless community.

Having had experience of supporting vulnerable adults and palliative care the successful candidate will be responsible for leading the social work team; supporting our trainee social worker, leading professional social work practice & education, as well as the delivery of safeguarding, MCA and DoLS training and practice.

Main duties of the job

This six-month secondment provides an opportunity for an experienced, qualified social worker to join our interdisciplinary team (IDT), providing responsive, high-quality care across Kirkwood Integrated Community Services (KICS) and the In-Patient Unit.

As professional lead for social work, the postholder will provide visible leadership, professional guidance and supervision, fostering a culture of continuous learning and reflective practice throughout the secondment.

The Senior Social Worker will provide operational management for agreed aspects of service delivery within the IDT and clinical and managerial supervision of professional staff in accordance with The Kirkwoods service specifications. The postholder will contribute to the charity-wide Safeguarding Group and act as the organisations Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) lead, ensuring compliance with local and national guidance and statutory and regulatory requirements.

Please note, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

About us

As an employee, you will be offered a range of benefits, including 27 days holiday (pro rata for part time staff), access to our Employee Assistance Programme, high-quality, low-cost meals at our Dalton site and complementary therapies. NHS Pensions are also transferable for those already contributing.

The Kirkwood provide specialist care, free of charge, to adults in Kirklees with advanced, progressive illnesses at any time from diagnosis to the end of life, respecting their individual needs and wishes. Care and support are also provided for their family members, friends, and carers, both during the illness and after death. Through education, training, and partnership with others, we improve care for everyone affected by a life limiting illness.

Details

• Date posted: 12 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £42,991 a year
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 6 months
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: B0030-26-0016
• Job locations: 21 Albany Road, Dalton, Huddersfield, HD5 9UY, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Role Summary

Clinical

Complete holistic, psychosocial assessments that reflect and represent the views and needs of the person and those significant to them

Support the Carers Support Needs Assessment (CSNAT) in a timely manner.

Use analytical skills and evidence-based practice to inform assessment decision making and interventions

Working in partnership to develop effective, creative, personalised plans to achieve positive outcomes

Enable individual independence, empowerment, well-being, choice and control

Assess and manage risk, knowing how to intervene proportionately to ensure people are protected from harm and feel safe, while protecting their human rights

Proactively manage own case load, including prioritising clinical caseload ensuring good quality service and achieve performance targets alongside members of the IDT and in collaboration with social work team members

Act as an advocate for patients and families under the care of The Kirkwood, working in partnership to respond to changing needs and promote equitable access for underserved populations across Kirklees

Improve and facilitate the timely transfer of care across the health and social care systems

Anticipate and identify the bereavement needs of families and carers, and as appropriate, in liaison with other team members, participate in bereavement follow up, handover and referral.

You will be responsible for the day to day management of your assigned cases in partnership with the IDT, intervening with legal and procedural authority to protect vulnerable people at risk of abuse or neglect; to help individuals develop and sustain their capacities for independent living and in complex situations to try and prevent or resolve conflict which may place individuals at risk.

You will undertake evidence-based assessments of individuals and their carers needs dealing with the more complex cases presented, undertaking risk assessments.

You will enable individuals to maintain wellbeing, personal dignity, and independence by supporting them, and their relevant networks, to put together a plan which will meet their assessed needs, and eligible outcomes in line with relevant legislation and council priorities.

Liaise with the Local Authority and Continuing Health Care and other appropriate agencies as required

Provide appropriate handover to other Social Workers as transitions through services occur, providing a seamless Social Work Service

Works in a way that takes into account issues relating to age, sexuality, health, race, religion, culture, and life experience

Provides verbal and written reports as required, collaborating with the IDT to provide comprehensive, up to date documentation and reports.

Works flexibly and embraces new ways of working, within confidentiality and information sharing protocols

To have a high degree of self-awareness and use this to maintain own and others emotional well-being, managing individuals and groups in distress or conflict, demonstrating resilience to frequently encountered highly emotional circumstances.

Management

Provide line management and leadership for staff and volunteers, maintaining safe, effective service delivery and a positive patient experience across relevant services and teams

Support the implementation of agreed operational changes, policies and procedures, with responsibility for the social work team and agreed aspects of the wider IDT

Effective communication with senior managers on activities and inform of any issues affecting delivery of service.

Effective use of data to manage service delivery and performance

Hold responsibility for delivery of the Key performance targets of the team

Support the Service Manage budgets and expenditure to ensure appropriate uses of our financial resources, in line with internal financial controls.

Ensure effective working relationships with our agency partners and other relevant services within the Local Authority

Able to lead improvement in social work practice at an operational level through effective performance management

Able to lead and manage in an operational area dealing with high risk and high complexity in a way that delivers good safeguarding and well-being outcomes for pateints and families

Provision of coordination and leadership as part of the KICS and virtual ward, ensuring delivery of high quality responsive services.

To provide professional advice to staff, colleagues and partners for the area of responsibility.

Education

Contribute to interdisciplinary teaching programmes internally and externally, providing quality assurance and evidence based practice approaches, particularly in relation to social work, Safeguarding, MCA and DoLs.

Provide and support the provision of practice teaching for IDT members

Effectively engage with and support volunteers to enhance service provision and contribute to volunteer mentoring as required.

Undertake appropriate and relevant professional training and qualifications if considered to be part of agreed personal and professional development review (PDR)

Represent The Kirkwood at functions and other events as necessary across Kirklees and the ICS

Take responsibility for own professional development in line with Personal Development Review (PDR) and attend and contribute to opportunities to reflect including team meetings, line management and clinical supervision.

Make effective use of supervision and contributes to the Personal Development processes.

Works within the Professional Capabilities Framework, statutory requirements and The Kirkwood policies and procedures.

Quality and Professional Practice

To work as professional lead for social work; maintaining up-to-date knowledge of research findings, legislation, statutory guidance and policy developments relevant to the service area.

Maintain clear records of agreed work, outstanding actions and key risks, and provide a structured handover before the secondment ends

To act as the organisational MCA and DoLs lead, being responsible for ensuring that the relevant policy and procedure is regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with statutory and local joint multi-agency requirements

Safeguarding

Safeguarding adults at risk is central to your role and the postholder will provide consultative advice, education and support to members of the IDT regarding the social care needs of people, as they relate to the Care Act 2014, Safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act (2005) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

To take an active role in leading safeguarding within the organisation as part of the safeguarding team, working as lead on the development, implementation, and monitoring of safeguarding policies, procedures and training. The individual will promote a culture of vigilance and accountability, provide guidance and support to colleagues, and ensure that safeguarding standards are consistently upheld across the organisation. Responsibilities will also include proactively identifying and addressing potential risks, facilitating regular safeguarding training, and acting as a point of contact for any safeguarding concerns. Demonstrating strong leadership and collaboration across the organisation in order to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all stakeholders.

Being jointly responsible for ensuring that the relevant policy and procedure is regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with statutory and local joint multi-agency requirements. Working as co-chair of the safeguarding working Group Progress actions required to meet the safeguarding standards.

Contribute to an organisation wide Safeguarding Self-Assessment on an annual basis, driving any related actions to be addressed within the cross-charity Safeguarding Group

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).