Staffordshire County Council
Social Care and Occupational Therapy Assessor - Prisons and Approved Premises
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Are you passionate about promoting independence, wellbeing and positive outcomes for adults?
We're looking for a Social Care Assessor / Occupational Therapy Assistant to join our Prisons and Approved Premises Team, supporting adults across custodial settings in Staffordshire.
Our specialist team ensures that people living in prisons and approved premises have access to the same care and support opportunities as those living in the wider community. You'll work with individuals with a range of needs, helping them identify their strengths, maintain their independence and achieve the outcomes that matter most to them.
Staffordshire has the largest prison population in England and Wales, with seven prisons and approved premises across the county. This creates a unique and rewarding opportunity to develop specialist skills while making a real difference to people's lives.
Role Details
This is a hybrid role, working full time Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm and is for a fixed term of 2 years.
You'll have opportunities for some remote working, alongside regular visits to prison sites, approved premises and hospital settings across Staffordshire. You'll also attend office-based team meetings and collaborative working days, helping you stay connected with colleagues while enjoying the flexibility of hybrid working.
Key Responsibilities
You'll be part of a supportive, experienced and collaborative team that values person-centred practice, professional development and innovation. Working alongside Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, healthcare professionals and prison staff, you'll play an important role in delivering high-quality Adult Social Care services.
- Complete strengths-based Care Act assessments, reviews and support plans for adults living in prisons and approved premises across Staffordshire.
- Build positive relationships with individuals, supporting them to identify strengths, goals and outcomes while promoting choice, control and informed decision-making.
- Manage a caseload of adults with varying care and support needs, ensuring assessments, reviews and support arrangements are timely, person-centred and outcome-focused.
- Support Occupational Therapists and Social Workers with assessments, interventions, moving and handling risk assessments, and recommendations for equipment or adaptations that promote independence and wellbeing.
- Work collaboratively with prison staff, healthcare professionals and partner agencies to develop a holistic understanding of individuals' needs and achieve positive outcomes.
- Maintain accurate case records and reports, contribute to service improvement, and engage in supervision, training and professional development to enhance practice.
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Requirements
We're looking for someone who:
- Has experience of working with adults with care and support needs.
- Can undertake strengths-based assessments and support planning.
- Has excellent communication and partnership-working skills.
- Is organised and able to manage a varied caseload.
- Is passionate about promoting independence, choice and control.
Minimum Essential Criteria
- Experience of working with adults who have care and support needs.
- An understanding of person-centred and strengths-based practice.
- The ability to complete assessments, gather information and develop effective support plans.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with individuals, families and professionals.
- The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team and develop effective partnerships with a range of organisations.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied workload.
- The ability to analyse information, identify risks and support proportionate decision-making.
- Good written and IT skills, including maintaining accurate records and reports.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and respecting individual strengths, backgrounds and experiences.
- The ability to travel independently to prison sites, approved premises, hospital settings and office locations across Staffordshire.
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Additional Criteria
- Transferable skills and experience from health, social care, housing, criminal justice, community support, rehabilitation or related settings are welcomed.
Application Process
Don't feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences and qualifications, so we encourage you to consider applying anyway. For an informal chat about the role, please contact:
- Sara Bell - Deputy Principal Social Worker sara.bell1@staffordshire.gov.uk
- Ruth Martin - Principal Social Worker and Safeguarding Lead ruth.martin@staffordshire.gov.uk
Interviews
Interviews will be held during the week commencing 31 August 2026.
Our Recruitment Process
We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you'll bring to the role. Please note: The minimum essential criteria detailed above will be used when assessing applications received under our Interview Guarantee Schemes, including Disability Confident, Armed Forces and Care Leavers.
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