Location
Kingston upon Thames, London Borough with excellent transport links in and out of London.

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£52,194 per annum

About the Role
Join the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames as a Senior Social Worker focusing on transformative projects within Adult Social Care. Kingston is a vibrant, diverse university town with a rich community spirit, scenic riverside locations, and excellent amenities. Our Adult Social Care service is committed to promoting independence, strength-based practice, and delivering high-quality, outcome-focused support for residents. You will be part of a supportive, ambitious, and collaborative team culture that values professional expertise, creative problem-solving, and continuous learning.

We are recruiting two Senior Social Workers to lead on key projects supporting transformation delivery: one focusing on Continuing Healthcare (CHC) and Section 22 Care Act reviews to challenge health partners and secure equitable joint-funding arrangements; the other on Mental Health (MH) and Learning Disability (LD) step-down projects to safely reassess high-cost placements and transition residents into independent community settings. Final role allocation will depend on your skills, experience, and organisational priorities.

Your role will involve driving strength-based reviews, challenging funding boundaries, and stepping down complex care packages to maximise independence and support service sustainability. Typical activities include auditing high-cost cases, conducting robust Care Act reassessments, navigating multi-agency boundaries, negotiating provider variations, and embedding sustainable practice through delivering Action Learning Sets and updating assessment tools to upskill the wider service.

Experience
Significant post-qualification experience in Adult Social Care with a proven track record managing complex Mental Health, Learning Disability, or high-cost care reviews. Experience in negotiation with health partners and care providers is essential. Prior involvement in CHC disputes, joint-funding negotiations, or stepping down residential placements into supported living is desirable. Experience designing and delivering training or structured learning such as Action Learning Sets is advantageous.

About you
An experienced, confident, and autonomous social worker who thrives on problem-solving, complex case analysis, and high-level negotiation. You demonstrate deep knowledge of social care law, apply advanced professional judgment, and constructively challenge decisions. You are committed to strength-based social work that promotes independence and rightsizes support packages, and you are motivated to leave a lasting legacy on practice.

Qualifications
Registered with Social Work England. Mastery of the Care Act 2014, s117 Mental Health Act, Section 22 boundaries, the Mental Capacity Act, and the NHS National Framework for Continuing Healthcare is required.