Senior Social Worker (focused reviews project)

About the Borough Found in zone 6 with good transport links in and out of London, Kingston is a vibrant and diverse university town which creates the rich sense of community shared across the borough and its Residents. Kingston boasts an idyllic riverside location, good shopping and great restaurants, as well as a mix of modern and historic town centre. Kingston has lots of open parklands and cycle routes that help connect the district town centres into an enjoyable place to live and work.

We are passionate about working closely with our residents and vulnerable groups to help them maintain their independence and create a balance between support and independent living. About the Service and Team In Adult Social Care, we are committed to promoting independence, strength-based practice, and delivering high-quality, outcome-focused support for our residents. We are launching dedicated projects designed to support complex care individuals, promote system equity, and ensure financial sustainability across the borough.

You will be joining and working across a supportive, ambitious, and collaborative Adult Social Care service culture that deeply values professional expertise, creative problem-solving, and continuous learning. Our service prioritises professional growth, sustainable working practices, and meaningful practice leadership. Beyond direct casework, this team plays a pivotal role in shaping our wider departmental culture.

In the final stage of the project, you will directly influence how we work by delivering Action Learning Sets, upskilling operational teams, and updating core assessment and review tools to embed lasting best practices across the organisation. About the Role and Our Ideal Candidate We are recruiting two Senior Social Workers who will each focus on a specific project to support transformation delivery.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead on either: Continuing Healthcare (CHC) and Section 22 Care Act reviews , challenging health partners to take responsibility for needs that fall outside the Adult Social Care remit and securing equitable joint-funding arrangements. Mental Health (MH) and Learning Disability (LD) step-down projects , safely reassessing high-cost placements and transitioning residents into rightsized, independent community settings.

Final role allocation will be based on candidates’ skills, experience and organisational priorities. Purpose of the job / What you’ll be doing Drive strength-based reviews, challenge funding boundaries, and step down complex care packages to maximise independence and support service sustainability. In these project-focused roles, you will focus on targeted, high-impact casework. A typical week might involve: Auditing and identifying target cases: Reviewing high-cost residential or supported living packages to spot opportunities for rightsizing, joint-funding, or progressing CHc/s22 challenges.

Conducting robust Care Act reassessments and reviews: Leading complex, strength-based reassessments and reviews that promote least-restrictive outcomes and maintaining legally compliant practice. Navigating multi-agency boundaries: Assertively challenging ICB decision-making through CHC processes and Section 22 determinations to ensure health partners meet their statutory responsibilities. Negotiating provider variations: Collaborating with commissioning colleagues to adjust care contracts as required and safely transition residents into supported living step-downs.

Embedding sustainable practice: Delivering Action Learning Sets and updating assessment tools in your final months to share learning and upskill the wider service. About you We are looking for an experienced, confident, and autonomous social worker who thrives on problem-solving, complex case analysis, and high-level negotiation. You will step into a high-profile, project-based role where you can bring deep knowledge of social care law, apply advanced professional judgment, constructively challenge decisions,