Social Care Assessor

The First Contact Team engages with citizens across Staffordshire, delivering strengths‑based, outcome‑focused assessments primarily via telephone and virtual platforms. These Care Act 2014–compliant assessments identify eligible needs while recognising people’s strengths, assets and ability to maintain independence.

The team works with individuals to develop care and support plans and collaborates closely with Brokerage to ensure services are arranged to meet any residual eligible social care needs. First Contact also provides timely, accessible information and advice, supporting people to connect with appropriate services such as local community support, health pathways, befriending services and preventative resources.

In addition, the team undertakes in‑person assessments for carers and young carers of all ages across the county. This is a hybrid role, with all appropriate equipment provided to support flexible working.

Please note that this advert is for two positions, a 37 hour 12 month fixed term position and a 37 hour permanent position.

You will:

• Take responsibility for Care Act assessments, including all statutory functions
• Develop collaborative relationships with adults and their circles of support, promoting positive expectations and understanding wishes, feelings and strengths
• Undertake purposeful engagement with individuals, families and professionals to understand needs, strengths, networks and capacity to consent
• Analyse information to identify and manage risk appropriately
• Negotiate and agree realistic, outcome‑focused support plans
• Work in partnership with colleagues and external professionals to enable independence and positive outcomes
• Maintain high‑quality electronic records and performance data in line with policy and procedure

You will have:

• Understanding of Care Act assessments and how to identify needs, strengths and outcomes
• Knowledge of person‑centred and strengths‑based practice when working with adults and carers
• Awareness of risk, safeguarding and proportionate decision‑making
• Knowledge of key adult social care legislation (including the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act)
• Understanding of effective communication with individuals, families and professionals
• Awareness of multi‑agency working and the wider health and social care system
• Knowledge of professional recording standards and use of digital case management systems
• Understanding of outcome‑focused support planning and service options

Interviews will be held during the week starting 16th March 2026.

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications so consider applying anyway or for an informal chat about the role please contact Name, Job Title at: Claire.holden@staffordshire.gov.uk or Nicola.Williams@staffordshire.gov.uk

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.