Social Worker (Shared Lives service) 3 days with hybrid working

This new role provides an excellent opportunity for someone who possesses the passion and commitment to work in a progressive organisation and help us achieve our vision - a society in which we can thrive as we age.

The main purpose of the role is:

• To recruit, assess and train Shared Lives Carers and match them with people over 65 years in need of support
• To provide a high-quality social work service to Shared Lives Carers 
• To monitor placements ensuring compliance with Adult Placement regulatory requirements, draft standards and best practice
• To promote the Shared Lives model of care and support.

Applicants must have the following:

• Hold a professional social work qualification or due to graduate in summer 2025 with a professional social work qualification (Degree in Social Work, Dip SW, CQSW or equivalent) 
• Have NISCC registration without condition or be eligible for registration
• Experience of working with older people/ carers or vulnerable adults or personal experience of caring for older people 
• Experience of carrying out individual person-centred assessments 
• Experience of identifying, assessing and managing risk
• Experience of working within a person-centred context 
• Experience of working with and relating to a range of HSC professionals
• Experience of using a computerised recording system to record notes and data and to produce reports, such as on Excel and Word
• Ability to travel across NI 
• Full current driving licence and access to a car for business use or access to a form of transport to fulfil requirements of the post
• Flexible approach as weekend and evening work may be required
• Postholder will be subject to an enhanced Access NI disclosure.

What Age NI can offer you:

Salary Scale: £29,091 – £36,747 per annum (pro-rata for part-time). Starting point on the scale will be determined by the successful applicants’ experience.

Hours: 21 hours with flexible working policy and hybrid working

Fixed Term Contract: The contract is until end December 2025 with possible extension for an additional 2 years

Annual Leave: 26 days plus 12 Bank Holidays (pro-rata)

Group Personal Pension contributions on qualifying earnings: 5% employer and 3% employee

10 weeks' fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks...and more!

Ongoing Learning and Development: Age NI has been awarded a Gold Investors in People accreditation.

Health Shield Cash Plan: cash back for dental, optical, podiatry etc

Access to Benenden Health Care (for a small monthly fee)

Age NI reserve the right to enhance the essential criteria to facilitate shortlisting.

For an applicant pack, please e-mail recruitment@ageni.org, apply online at www.ageni.org or for more information telephone the Shared Lives team on 028 9024 5729.

Closing date for completed applications is Monday 28 April 2025 at 12:00 noon.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 13 May & Wednesday 14 May 2025.

About Age NI Shared Lives Service

We are a Regional NI Service – registered at the end of December 2022 by RQIA and funded by the Department of Health.

We monitor and manage day support Shared Lives placements, and our plan is to also develop opportunities for short breaks and long-term placements.

Day support is for older people over the age of 65 and it takes place in the community, and in the family homes of carefully recruited Shared Lives Carers. The older people using the service are at the early stage of need and the service will help them to stay as independent for as long as possible, and to be part of their local communities, reducing loneliness and isolation, and helping families to continue to provide care, with the benefit of a break from caring.

We recruit, assess, and support Shared Lives Carers and provide them with training, as well as organising support groups and social events.

We deliver a high-quality service, complying with Adult Placement Regulations and Draft Standards, and RQIA guidance.

Our team is currently made up of a Service Manager and two part-time social workers. Placements will be across the 5 HSC Trusts, so the role will involve driving to and visiting Shared Lives Carers in their homes.

We aim to have a kind, compassionate, person-centred service which is responsive to the needs of Shared Lives Carers and the people they support.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing service which offers an alternative to what is currently on offer within Adult Social Care. The social work role is very varied. You will have the chance to complete assessments and care plans, identify and help to manage risks, match Shared Lives Carers with older people they can support, as well as designing and delivering training and planning and facilitating social and support events. It is a service focussed on building and maintaining positive relationships. If you like the idea of the Shared Lives Model and are keen to make a real difference to the lives of older people, we would love to hear from you!

For more information on the Shared Lives model, you can go to https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk/

Age NI is committed to recruiting fairly. An application form enables us to compare applicants and for that reason we cannot accept CVs. 

Age NI is committed to providing equal opportunities to everyone.