Senior Independence and Wellbeing Practitioner

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Job Description

• Suffolk County Council - The Annex, Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1QT - Hybrid
• £33,366 per annum (pro rata)
• 37 hours per week - Flexible working options available
• Fixed Term or Secondment to 31/12/2025

This advert is open to current Suffolk County Council staff only

As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, we're driven to make a positive difference to the environment, the communities we serve and the careers of our people. That's why, when you join us as a Senior Independence and Wellbeing Practitioner, you'll be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and you'll be empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services as well as your career.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

• work as part of a fast paced frontline integrated team of Independence and Wellbeing Practitioners, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Nurses as well as many other professionals
• play a key role in promoting personalisation, independence, wellbeing and choice by providing a Social Care service to adults with care and support needs and their carers, carrying out complex strengths-based assessments/reviews, short term enablement plans, specialist mental capacity assessments, support plans and safeguarding plans
• share the duty role amongst your team, ensuring you triage and manage risk effectively and signpost to alternative services, where appropriate
• hold an active caseload and complete assessments; such as Preventative Assessments, Care Act Assessments, Mental Capacity Assessments
• You'll need to work within budget restraints, showing creativity when writing support plans, evidencing you have considered alternatives to paid for services
• safeguard the people you work with, ensuring you work collaboratively with them to create safety plans to reduce the risk of ongoing abuse.

You will need

• good knowledge of relevant legislation such as The Care Act 2014 and The Mental Capacity Act 2005
• good knowledge of Adult Social Care Services
• good knowledge and understanding of the assessment, support planning and care management process
• proven experience and understanding of a person centred, enabling approach to working with people to maximise their independence and wellbeing
• proven ability to research e.g. provision of services, medical conditions
• good self-organisation skills and ability to prioritise
• proven ability to work as part of a team, be a role model and a supportive team member and share ideas, knowledge and creative thinking with colleagues
• excellent listening and communication skills with proven ability to communicate effectively in a clear manner to individuals and groups and record information using appropriate format. You will need to be able to to verbally explain and describe accurately.
• awareness and understanding of people's emotions and reactions, in a range of complex situations
• experience of working with people who have disabilities or age-related conditions.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The team is made up of a range of professionals who all work hard to support the people of Woodbridge by providing long-term care plans, short-term support, home visits, therapy, adaptations, advice, guidance, and signposting.

After an INT team project in March 2023, we developed the Woodbridge Holistic Assessment Team. This team of professionals runs a monthly clinic to offer a range of assessments and advice to people who are experiencing falls or near misses and the associated conditions.

In December 2024, we moved offices, which means that Health and Social Care are now on the same floor plate. We have the Primary Care Network (PCN) sitting downstairs too, which has helped develop our relationships and integrated working further.

We have a gym for therapists to assess mobility and provide equipment aids. Additionally, we have a leg ulcer clinic and a non-housebound clinic supporting those with Picc lines and catheters, for patients that are able to access their local community; this reduces demand on the Community Nursing Team.

We follow a hybrid model of working but have seen the benefits of having more presence in the office as this is a shared space with many professionals.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Natasha Kerry (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach her by calling 01473 263228 or emailing Natasha.Kerry@suffolk.gov.uk

If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx).

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload asupporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the 'Person Profile' section of theJPP.

• You should use the Supporting Statement template.
• Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailingrecruitment@suffolk.gov.ukor calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 16 February 2025.

Interview date: Week commencing 3 March 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).