About the Role This postholder is the statutory Principal Social Worker (Care Act S1.27) and will directly report to the Assistant Director for Adult Social Care Operations and Transformation. The role will also have a dotted line to the Executive Director of Health and Adult Social Care. The Principal Social Worker is accountable to ensure that the highest standard of social work practice is embedded across the organisation, by providing skilled and experienced leadership and practice knowledge to social workers and social care practitioners, the organisation and its partners. This role is responsible for ensuring adherence to many complex social work functions associated with adult safeguarding and statutory social work functions associated with The Care Act, The Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act. The post holder will be required to balance professional judgements on authority-wide, non-standard problems and will be responsible for putting in place appropriate and complex partnerships. This will require excellent negotiation skills and the need to find solutions where there are many conflicting factors. The environment in which the post-holder will work is complex and challenging and the role requires a range of both analytical skills and sensitivity, as well as political awareness and sound judgement. This role will play a key strategic leadership role in preparing for and ongoing adherence to the CQC regulatory assurance framework in the delivery of statutory social care responsibilities under the Care Act 2014 and includes responsibility for practice quality assurance and workforce development. About Us As a member of the senior management team, the role will act as a change agent, contributing to the strategic leadership of services, developing and implementing standards to ensure a cohesive and high performing Adult social care workforce which embraces cultural change and improved strength based practice to our residents. About You In order to successfully deliver the responsibilities of the role, you will need to: Have a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England with extensive post qualifying experience Have strong leadership skills, modelling a performance culture and constructively building achievement, confidence and skills in others Question and challenge conventional thinking, with a continual eye on the bigger picture in terms of the corporate context and external environment Ability to challenge and influence at all levels Demonstrate detailed knowledge of legislation & research Have detailed knowledge of the qualification and competency frameworks of social work professionals Work successfully with key stakeholders including Members, residents, businesses, communities, partner organisations and other public services Management experience over a range of professional roles with significant experience of managing functions in a number of specifications, eg: Older People, Mental Health, Learning Disability, Safeguarding Experience as a practice educator or supervisor Ability to undertake workforce analysis and workforce development programmes to ensure practice excellence Demonstrate a high level of confidence Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing to a wide range of audiences (including ability to write clear and concise reports & presentations) Show initiative in identifying areas of practice improvement and in ensuring dissemination of pertinent information at all levels Our Offer To You As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team. In addition we offer a modern and flexible working environment for our staff supported by our IT infrastructure, Google Chromebooks and Google Apps, which have acted as a key enabler for collaborative and streamlined working. We operate hybrid working, a flexible working model which allows staff to work from a variety of locations and staff are not required to work within the office 5 days a week. It enables staff to achieve a work life balance whilst still meeting the needs of the organisation. Employees have access to a wide range of benefits, some of which include: Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply) Three volunteering days per year in Kingston Flexible and agile working arrangements Comprehensive learning and development programme Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres Interest free season ticket loans Local Government Pension Scheme Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme Zip car scheme Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses Confidential wellbeing and counselling support Subsidised gym membership Application Process Please apply online outlining what skills, abilities and experience you can bring which makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Please ensure you refer to the requirements outlined in the job profile when completing your application. The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.