Social Worker - Early Help and Prevention

Social Worker - Early Help & Prevention (Ref: ASC/26/053/NW)

Directorate: People (Childrens, Adults, Public Health, Education and SEND)

Department: Adults’ Services

Salary: Range SW2 Level A (£39,823 per annum)

Hours: 37 per week

Location: Gun Wharf

Working style:

Hybrid – Works part from Gun Wharf and part from home.

Closing Date: 30/08/2026

As a qualified social worker are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of vulnerable adults with social care needs and have a strong review background? If so, we would love you to join us in Medway Adult Social Care.
Where is Medway?
Medway is a vibrant thriving location with excellent schools and plenty of historic attractions e.g.: Historic Dockyard, Rochester Castle and Cathedral. Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, only 30 miles from London, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London. It provides excellent opportunities for affordable home ownership.
Adult Social Care is pursuing a far-reaching transformation agenda that better meets the needs of our community, so it is an exciting time to join us. We have recently introduced a competency progression framework linked to salary.

The post
We have an exciting opportunity for experienced Social Workers (must have completed ASYE and registered with Social Work England) who are highly motivated to work within long term and early help. We are looking for people who are committed to delivering a high-quality service and who enjoy the challenge of reviewing packages of care to ensure best value and positive outcomes.
The service is delivered using a strengths-based (Conversations Model), person centred approach. We have implemented an innovative locality-based service giving the opportunity to establish close links with local communities and partners.
Your practice will have a strong emphasis on quality and achieving the best possible outcomes for people. We promote individual aspirations, enhance independence and wellbeing and maximise autonomy by supporting people to live their lives in the way that they choose.
Working at Medway Council means that you will be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in

Making you feel valued
We offer excellent support including CPD learning opportunities and regular reflective supervision. Individual learning needs will be identified to develop specialist knowledge. We have a hybrid working model with a balance of remote working and office based.

The successful post holder will be subject to an Enhanced Adults’ DBS check.

In return we will offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.

When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:

Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.

Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.

Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.

Level specific wording for targeted recruitment:

Level A

Early Help and Prevention are seeking a Social Worker to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.

Important Information

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria which are essential for appointment to the role.

• For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.

• Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

• Please note, we prioritise applications from current Medway Council redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.

• We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.