BHSCT Social Worker Band 6

Advertised role location: Belfast HSCT
Official document: Social Worker Band 6 Regional 2025 (docx)
Social Worker Band 6


Band 6 Social Workers Overview

The following is a Summary Overview of the typical responsibilities of a Social Worker Band 6.

The post holder will be responsible for the direct provision of quality social work services to service users and carers. The post holder will work as a member of a social work or multi-disciplinary team, reporting to a Team Leader. The post holder will be responsible for the direct discharge of statutory functions and fulfilling the Named Social Worker Function. Assessment of need, care planning, safeguarding, risk management, review of services, effective case load management and a rights based practice approach are key elements of the Social Work role. The post holder will practise professional Social Work, working in partnership with statutory agencies, other professionals, voluntary organisations and families to ensure person centred outcomes. The post holder will practice in accordance with Regional HSC Values and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council Codes of Conduct and Practice for Social Workers.

JOB SUMMARY:

The post holder will be responsible for the direct provision of quality social work services to service users and carers.

The post holder will work as a member of a social work or multi-disciplinary team, reporting to a Team Leader and will typically work with a variety of statutory agency colleagues.

The post holder will be responsible for the direct discharge of statutory functions, practicing in accordance with legislative requirements and fulfilling the Named Social Worker Function.

Assessment of need, care planning, safeguarding, risk management, review of services, effective case load management and a rights based practice approach are key elements of the Social Work role.

The post holder will practise professional Social Work, working in partnership with statutory agencies, other professionals, voluntary organisations and families to ensure person centred outcomes.

The post holder will practice in accordance with Regional HSC Values and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council Codes of Conduct and Practice for Social Workers.

Participate in meetings, conferences and court proceedings and provide reports within timescale.

Maintain accurate comprehensive and up to date records in line with regional and Trust policy.

Be responsible for managing allocated work and establish priorities within it.

Participate in supervision in line with Regional and Trust policy.

Engage in team meetings, team building exercises and work well within the team.

Take responsibility for own continuous professional development, continuing registration requirements, and commit to achieving Professional in Practice (PIP).

Attend conferences, courses and specific continuous professional developmental programmes required or considered essential by the Programme of Care.

Provide support and advice to others commensurate with own level of experience.

Support Team Leader to provide student Placement Learning Opportunities.

Participate in and promote activity to improve standards of social work practice.

Provide data for service development, quality improvement, monitoring purposes, performance indicators or delegated statutory data returns.

Participate in office duty, weekend and/or bank holiday working, out of hours or stand by duty as required within the Programme of Care. Working patterns will vary according to the social work post and may include working over a 7 day rota, evening and weekend as well as unsociable hours

Engage in any other duties as determined by the Trust.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Notes to applicants:

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria.

2. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

3. WARNING: It will be assumed that all applicants meet the essential criteria for the application stage as stated in the Personnel Specification at the closing date of advertisement. Applicants should therefore note that it is their responsibility to ensure they meet the essential criteria for the application stage. If it is subsequently found at any stage of the recruitment and selection process that an applicant did not meet the criteria at the closing date their application will not be processed any further.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria
Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Experience/ Registration
Hold a recognised Professional qualification in Social Work


Have successfully completed the Assessed Year in Employment, or one year’s post graduate experience.* Please provide start and end dates of AYE in DD/MM/YY format.

OR


If qualified before AYE was introduced or if AYE was not in place in country of qualification, then; One year’s post qualification experience (Please include why AYE was not completed and confirmation of dates of first year in employment in format DD/MM/YY). 


Be registered on Part 1 of the NISCC register.
OR
Provide evidence of application to Part 1 of NISCC by closing date.
Please state Registration number, or date (in format DD/MM/YY) that you made application to join Part 1 of the NISCC register.

*Students who have graduated in Northern Ireland must have completed their AYE by the closing date.
Shortlisting

Other
Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criterion will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

Shortlisting

SECTION 2: The following are Desirable criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Factor
Criteria
Method of Assessment

Skills / Abilities
4. Effective planning & organisational skills with an ability to prioritise own workload.
Interview

5. Effective communications skills to meet the needs of the post in full.

6. Ability to work as part of a single or multi- disciplinary team.

7. Ability to use own initiative.

8. Ability to identify solutions to problems and implement them effectively.

9. Ability to assess needs, risks, circumstances, manage risk, plan care and review to promote person centred outcomes.

10. Demonstrate a commitment to the provision of high quality and safe services and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

Knowledge
11. Demonstrate an understanding of all aspects of the role as set out in the Job Summary.
Interview

12. Knowledge of relevant legislation as it applies across all Service User Groups and Carers.

Candidates may wish to be aware that we incorporate Value Based Recruitment in our process. Here is a high level summary of what this means

Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by HSC to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.

It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.

In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values in practice.

What We Can Offer You

There are many benefits of working for the HSC with competitive remuneration packages and excellent terms and conditions of employment, here are just a few:

Annual Leave and General Public holidays
The HSC offers excellent provision for annual leave and General Public Holidays as follows:
On entry 27 days plus 10 public holidays After 5 years’ service 29 days plus 10 public holidays After 10 years’ service 33 days plus 10 public holidays

HSC Pension Scheme / HPSS Superannuation Scheme
The HSC Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme and an important and valuable staff benefit for people working in the health service. As a scheme member, you get an excellent package of pension benefits, index linked and guaranteed by the Government. If you join the scheme, you will receive life insurance cover of twice your pensionable or reckonable pay from the day you join.

Membership of the scheme is voluntary; however, you will be entered into the scheme automatically and will have to choose to opt out. Further information may be obtained from the HSC Pension Service Website at

Human Resources Policies
Each Trust offers a wide range of Human Resource Policies to underpin the value that is placed on our staff such as a range of Work Life Balance/Flexible Working Policies. Further information is available on Trust websites.

Personal Development - The HSC offers a strong continuous professional development ethos through Annual Personal Development Reviews and Personal Develop Planning.

Committed to Equality of Opportunity
Each Trust recognises and values the diversity of its workforce and the population it serves. Each Trust is committed to a working environment free from intimidation of any kind. Through a systematic and objective recruitment & selection process the Trusts are committed to ensuring that appointment decisions are taken solely on the basis of merit.

The below diagram details the values and associated behaviours that we expect staff working within Health and Social Care (HSC) to display at all times;

HSC Value

What does this mean?

What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.

I work with others and value everyone’s contribution
I treat people with respect and dignity
I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams
I actively engage people on issues that affect them
I look for feedback and examples of good
practice, aiming to improve where possible

Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.

I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness
I learn from others by listening carefully to them
I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others

Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high-quality, compassionate care and support.
I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference
I take responsibility for my decisions and actions
I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing
I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships
I ask someone for help when needed
I speak up if I have concerns
I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice