Are you an experienced, resilient, and highly autonomous Social Worker ready to handle high-risk crises outside of normal office hours? Join the Gateshead Emergency Duty Team (EDT) and play a critical role in providing immediate response to safeguarding emergencies for both children and adults.
The Opportunity
* Role: Social Worker, Emergency Duty Team (Locum/Contract)
* Location: Gateshead (Hybrid/Remote options when not required to travel for assessment)
* Hours: Out-of-hours shifts (Evenings, Weekends, and Bank Holidays)
* Rate: Highly Competitive Rate (£59 per hour) - Reflective of the specialist nature and demands of the role.
The Role & Key Responsibilities
The EDT is the front line for social care emergencies. You will be responsible for assessing urgent risk where intervention cannot wait until the next working day.
* Crisis Management: Managing immediate and often complex crisis situations involving both children (Child Protection, immediate removal/placement) and adults (Safeguarding, Mental Health Act assessments).
* Statutory Assessments: Undertaking urgent Mental Capacity Act (MCA) assessments, making Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications, and coordinating Section 47 inquiries.
* Multi-Agency Liaison: Working closely with the Police, Health Services (A&E, psychiatric teams), housing, and other key agencies during crisis interventions.
* Decision Making: Exercising advanced clinical judgment to make autonomous, high-risk decisions on duty, escalating to senior management only where necessary.
* Mental Health Focus: Responding to urgent mental health requests, including attending hospital or community settings to support detentions under the Mental Health Act.
What You'll Bring
* A recognized professional qualification in Social Work and current registration with Social Work England (SWE).
* Extensive post-qualified experience in statutory frontline social work (either Children's or Adults, preferably both).
* Proven expertise in high-risk assessment and crisis intervention.
* A comprehensive understanding of the Children Act 1989 and the Care Act 2014.
* The resilience and confidence to work independently and make decisions under pressure during unsociable hours.
* Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle.
Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
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