Welcome
Thank you for your interest in joining Medway Council Adult Social Care division.
This is an exciting time for the service, as we transform the way in which we support people in Medway. Our locality teams ensure that our staff have the opportunity to really get to know the communities that people live in, helping us to connect people to resources in their local areas, and to enable much closer working with local partners, such as GPs, community nurses and the voluntary and community sector.
This approach is underpinned by the implementation of a strengths based approach called “3 conversations”, where we aim to support people to remain independent in their own communities for as long as possible.
Through this approach we are also seeking to release staff from bureaucratic form filling to allow you to get back to effective person centred approaches which build on people strengths.
I feel privileged to lead the teams through this time of change. We have a clear vision, a workforce that is eager and willing to change the way we work and the political and corporate support to implement them.
The Medway Towns is fast becoming a popular place to relocate in the South East of England. Find out what the Telegraph said about the benefits of living in Medway as an affordable alternative to London.
The Medway area is one of historic importance with an exciting regeneration vision for the area, find out more here.
Chris McKenzie
Assistant Director Adult Care Services
Getting it right first time
Our Service
Our Adult Social Care service is organised into Early Help and Prevention locality teams and our Long Term Support teams. Each locality team includes professionals with a range of skills and experience, to enable us to assist people with a range of needs, including older people, people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and social care issues relating to mental ill health.
Our teams include Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Nurse Practitioners, all working together as Integrated Practitioners and supported by Assistant Integrated Practitioners (skilled social care staff who do not hold a professional qualification)
All of our teams work closely with our colleagues in health, children services, the voluntary sector and other adult services to make sure that people who need support and their families achieve their agreed outcomes.
Early Help and Prevention
The Early Help and Prevention locality teams use the “3 conversations” approach to find out what is important to people, and how we might support them to remain independent in their own homes and communities.
We do this by connecting people to community resources and by helping them to support themselves and to be supported by their families. We also take a personalised approach to help people to regain their independence and confidence following an acute illness.
The Integrated Hospital Discharge Team is part of the Early Help and Prevention Service and works in partnership with a variety of other professionals based at Medway Hospital This team will give you an excellent opportunity to put your social work skills to the test to ensure the safe discharge of Medway residents.
We provide reablement services using the skills of our occupational therapists as well as swift access to assistive equipment and minor household adaptations that help people to remain independent.
The team also provides statutory safeguarding services for people who are not in receipt of long term care and support.
Long term support
The Long Term Support teams provide work with people who have substantial, ongoing social care needs. We have a team of committed and experienced staff working with individuals, carers and families to support them achieve their outcomes and maximise their independence.
The service works closely with our 0-25 team to ensure effective transitions for young people with a disability.
The team also provide statutory safeguarding services for people who are not in receipt of long term care and support and ensures that people are provided with complex assistive equipment and major home adaptions that enable them to continue to live in their own homes, safely and independently
Other services
Our community support and outreach team offer personalised help to people in their homes with social care needs related to Mental Health problems. This runs seven days a week..
Our community resources hub support the recovery of mental health service users through engaging them in opportunities to develop resilience and life skills in line with the individual’s preferences and resources in their local community, encouraging service users to live as independently as possible. They offer opportunities for service users to develop their own peer supported groups and continue to support with the long arm approach.
The Medway Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) service provides statutory assessments under the legislative framework of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). The DoLS team’s best interest assessors are qualified to complete the relevant assessments where an individual is being deprived of their liberty under article 5 of the Human Rights Act (1988).
Shared Lives carers support vulnerable and disabled adults within their family home. Shared Lives carers come from all walks of life and are passionate about the support they provide.
We have an AHMP service to fulfil our statutory duties under the Mental Health Act 2007, We encourage applications from those who already hold this qualification.
Support structure
– In order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the residents of Medway, we firmly recognise that the focus must begin with our employees.
– We have made it our upmost priority to create a supportive environment within which our employees feel that their voices are heard, opinions valued and needs are met. In return, we expect each member of every team to share in our commitment to the residents of Medway.
– Each team is made up of a range of professionals including social workers and occupational therapists and support staff working alongside partners. This creates an incredible pool of resources and expertise, making positive outcomes all the more achievable.
– Team structures are designed to make caseloads as manageable as possible and all employees are given regular supervision. A collaborative environment is promoted through our open plan offices in which ideas can be shared and everyone can benefit from the division’s rich and varied expertise and members of senior management are always available when needed.
– We are committed to the professional development of our staff including post qualifying training as AMHP, BIA and Practice Educator Award. We invest in the development of students and newly qualified social workers,
– At Medway Council, you can carry out your best work safe in the knowledge that there is a comprehensive support structure behind you.
Our Service
Our Adult Social Care service is organised into Early Help and Prevention locality teams and our Long Term Support teams. Each locality team includes professionals with a range of skills and experience, to enable us to assist people with a range of needs, including older people, people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and social care issues relating to mental ill health.
Our teams include Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Nurse Practitioners, all working together as Integrated Practitioners and supported by Assistant Integrated Practitioners (skilled social care staff who do not hold a professional qualification)
All of our teams work closely with our colleagues in health, children services, the voluntary sector and other adult services to make sure that people who need support and their families achieve their agreed outcomes.
Early Help and Prevention
The Early Help and Prevention locality teams use the “3 conversations” approach to find out what is important to people, and how we might support them to remain independent in their own homes and communities.
We do this by connecting people to community resources and by helping them to support themselves and to be supported by their families. We also take a personalised approach to help people to regain their independence and confidence following an acute illness.
The Integrated Hospital Discharge Team is part of the Early Help and Prevention Service and works in partnership with a variety of other professionals based at Medway Hospital This team will give you an excellent opportunity to put your social work skills to the test to ensure the safe discharge of Medway residents.
We provide reablement services using the skills of our occupational therapists as well as swift access to assistive equipment and minor household adaptations that help people to remain independent.
The team also provides statutory safeguarding services for people who are not in receipt of long term care and support.
Long term support
The Long Term Support teams provide work with people who have substantial, ongoing social care needs. We have a team of committed and experienced staff working with individuals, carers and families to support them achieve their outcomes and maximise their independence.
The service works closely with our 0-25 team to ensure effective transitions for young people with a disability.
The team also provide statutory safeguarding services for people who are not in receipt of long term care and support and ensures that people are provided with complex assistive equipment and major home adaptions that enable them to continue to live in their own homes, safely and independently
Other services
Our community support and outreach team offer personalised help to people in their homes with social care needs related to Mental Health problems. This runs seven days a week..
Our community resources hub support the recovery of mental health service users through engaging them in opportunities to develop resilience and life skills in line with the individual’s preferences and resources in their local community, encouraging service users to live as independently as possible. They offer opportunities for service users to develop their own peer supported groups and continue to support with the long arm approach.
The Medway Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) service provides statutory assessments under the legislative framework of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). The DoLS team’s best interest assessors are qualified to complete the relevant assessments where an individual is being deprived of their liberty under article 5 of the Human Rights Act (1988).
Shared Lives carers support vulnerable and disabled adults within their family home. Shared Lives carers come from all walks of life and are passionate about the support they provide.
We have an AHMP service to fulfil our statutory duties under the Mental Health Act 2007, We encourage applications from those who already hold this qualification.
Support structure
– In order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the residents of Medway, we firmly recognise that the focus must begin with our employees.
– We have made it our upmost priority to create a supportive environment within which our employees feel that their voices are heard, opinions valued and needs are met. In return, we expect each member of every team to share in our commitment to the residents of Medway.
– Each team is made up of a range of professionals including social workers and occupational therapists and support staff working alongside partners. This creates an incredible pool of resources and expertise, making positive outcomes all the more achievable.
– Team structures are designed to make caseloads as manageable as possible and all employees are given regular supervision. A collaborative environment is promoted through our open plan offices in which ideas can be shared and everyone can benefit from the division’s rich and varied expertise and members of senior management are always available when needed.
– We are committed to the professional development of our staff including post qualifying training as AMHP, BIA and Practice Educator Award. We invest in the development of students and newly qualified social workers,
– At Medway Council, you can carry out your best work safe in the knowledge that there is a comprehensive support structure behind you.
Our Staff Say
-
I have worked in Medway since 2016, firstly as a Practice Manager and now as Principal Social Worker. I chose to remain in Medway and continue my professional journey here, as I believe it is an authority that encourages development and welcomes new ideas and creative thinking to move the service forward. The focus of practice here is very much on the child and we work together as a team to ensure we deliver the best possible outcomes for the children and families with whom we work. There is good team spirit in Medway and ‘good news’ stories are celebrated. It is a lively and supportive place to work.
Honey Woodward – Principal Social Worker -
I have worked for Medway Local Authority as a Children’s Social Worker for almost 3 years. I joined Medway as a Newly Qualified SW, and completed my ASYE year. I have been fortunate to gain experience within Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked after Children, and Proceedings due to the Area Based teams, developing my skill-set with fantastic management support. Medway is a friendly local authority with supportive colleagues and is striving to promote development and progression for social workers.
April Baker, Social Worker
Professional Development
Medway Social Work Academy
The Medway Social Work Academy was launched in April 2014. The Academy was set up to attract, recruit, develop and retain social workers in Adults and Children’s Social Care, with a strong focus on training linked to continuous professional development for all existing social workers and managers.
The Social Work Academy is a virtual academy made up of several faculties –
- Developing Social Care Staff – to provide all our Social Care staff with appropriate resources, training and development opportunities to support their continued professional development.
- Students’ Unit – provides support to students on placement including monthly Action Learning Sets and tutorials which are delivered by our Social Work Student Training Manager
- NQSW (ASYE) – A 12 month ASYE programme has been developed for our social work graduates and is delivered by an Advanced Practitioner specifically recruited to guide NQSW’s through their first year.
- Extended Professional Development – provides support to our social workers including those who have recently completed their ASYE year. Social workers receive mentoring through every stage of their career and will have access to an extensive CPD programme along with specialist seminars and programmes tailored to support their emerging professional challenges.
- Advanced Professional Development – provides support to senior social workers, social work managers and head of service including step up programme for senior social workers to social work manager, ILM and Assisted and Supported Year in Management programme.
The faculties engage leaders in social work and its allied fields of work to engage in multi agency cross-cutting learning. The academy is an outstanding resource providing dynamic and professional leadership to our staff and students from our partner universities.
Our Ethos
In Children’s Services and across all our social work practice we are committed to social work values and promoting the professionalism of social work. We will support you through training, supervision, coaching, team and service meetings and offer a wealth of opportunities to help you with your continuous professional development.
We keep children and families at the centre of what we do and focus on achieving improved outcomes for them through our interventions.
Professional Support
We are committed to establishing a skilled, permanent social care workforce. Medway Social Work Academy has a programme of training and support for NQSWs, qualified and experienced practitioners and managers. The Academy has strong links with local universities and leading London universities, who are social work educators.
The Academy has strong internal and external partnerships and works closely with Medway’s safeguarding leads in order to invest in our social care workforce, who “Make A Difference” for Medway’s service users
We are developing post qualification opportunities to build the expertise of social workers in systemic practice, motivational interviewing, direct work with children and specific techniques such as the Graded Care Profile.
Practice Educating is encouraged to support the learning culture
Leadership programmes from the Institute of Leadership and Management ILM are available and we will be focusing on developing leadership in our first line managers.
Each member of staff has a Personal Development Plan which is specific to their needs. We ensure that staff can build on their SW qualification, develop specialist interests and participate in multi agency groups such as the Medway Safeguarding Children’s Board.
Induction
You will receive a comprehensive induction programme which will be tailored by your manager to ensure that you are successfully inducted in your new role, and understand the Medway approach to working with children and families.
Additional Research and Learning Tools
In addition to the above, Medway provides additional research and learning tools for social work staff including membership of Research in Practice (RIP), and Research in Practice for Adults (RIPfA).
We are committed to your professional development and you will receive regular professional supervision in your role to ensure you continue to develop and learn.
Professional Development
Medway Social Work Academy
The Medway Social Work Academy was launched in April 2014. The Academy was set up to attract, recruit, develop and retain social workers in Adults and Children’s Social Care, with a strong focus on training linked to continuous professional development for all existing social workers and managers.
The Social Work Academy is a virtual academy made up of several faculties –
- Developing Social Care Staff – to provide all our Social Care staff with appropriate resources, training and development opportunities to support their continued professional development.
- Students’ Unit – provides support to students on placement including monthly Action Learning Sets and tutorials which are delivered by our Social Work Student Training Manager
- NQSW (ASYE) – A 12 month ASYE programme has been developed for our social work graduates and is delivered by an Advanced Practitioner specifically recruited to guide NQSW’s through their first year.
- Extended Professional Development – provides support to our social workers including those who have recently completed their ASYE year. Social workers receive mentoring through every stage of their career and will have access to an extensive CPD programme along with specialist seminars and programmes tailored to support their emerging professional challenges.
- Advanced Professional Development – provides support to senior social workers, social work managers and head of service including step up programme for senior social workers to social work manager, ILM and Assisted and Supported Year in Management programme.
The faculties engage leaders in social work and its allied fields of work to engage in multi agency cross-cutting learning. The academy is an outstanding resource providing dynamic and professional leadership to our staff and students from our partner universities.
Our Ethos
In Children’s Services and across all our social work practice we are committed to social work values and promoting the professionalism of social work. We will support you through training, supervision, coaching, team and service meetings and offer a wealth of opportunities to help you with your continuous professional development.
We keep children and families at the centre of what we do and focus on achieving improved outcomes for them through our interventions.
Professional Support
We are committed to establishing a skilled, permanent social care workforce. Medway Social Work Academy has a programme of training and support for NQSWs, qualified and experienced practitioners and managers. The Academy has strong links with local universities and leading London universities, who are social work educators.
The Academy has strong internal and external partnerships and works closely with Medway’s safeguarding leads in order to invest in our social care workforce, who “Make A Difference” for Medway’s service users
We are developing post qualification opportunities to build the expertise of social workers in systemic practice, motivational interviewing, direct work with children and specific techniques such as the Graded Care Profile.
Practice Educating is encouraged to support the learning culture
Leadership programmes from the Institute of Leadership and Management ILM are available and we will be focusing on developing leadership in our first line managers.
Each member of staff has a Personal Development Plan which is specific to their needs. We ensure that staff can build on their SW qualification, develop specialist interests and participate in multi agency groups such as the Medway Safeguarding Children’s Board.
Induction
You will receive a comprehensive induction programme which will be tailored by your manager to ensure that you are successfully inducted in your new role, and understand the Medway approach to working with children and families.
Additional Research and Learning Tools
In addition to the above, Medway provides additional research and learning tools for social work staff including membership of Research in Practice (RIP), and Research in Practice for Adults (RIPfA).
We are committed to your professional development and you will receive regular professional supervision in your role to ensure you continue to develop and learn.