Job Description

Are you passionate about people? Do you enjoy delivering great, values-led customer service?

We are recruiting for Hearings Support Officers to join us and be the first point of contact for those involved in our hearings. You'll handle queries and provide support and guidance to a broad range of people including social workers, witnesses, and members of the public, giving you a chance to grow your customer service and administrative skills in a sensitive and professional way.

Our fitness to practise function is how we consider and address concerns about a social worker's practice. Once a concern has been through an investigation, the case examiners decide whether a hearing is required. The concern about the social worker will then be considered by a panel of independent adjudicators at a final hearing where they will decide whether the social worker's fitness to practise is impaired.

Social Work England are the specialist regulator for social work in England, focused on enabling positive change in social work. Every day, social workers support millions of people to improve their chances in life. We are taking a new approach to regulating social workers in their vital roles. We believe in the power of collaboration and share a common goal with those we regulate - to protect the public, enable positive change and ultimately improve people's lives.

The Benefits

In addition to your salary, we also offer:

Hybrid working, with a minimum of two days per week in the office. 25 days annual leave, rising with service to 30 days per annum, plus bank holidays. The option to purchase up to an additional 5 days of annual leave per annum. A TIDE award winning inclusive culture, made up of staff networks, social events and forums. A pension scheme, life insurance, an employee recognition scheme and cycle to work scheme.

What You Will Do

As a Hearings Support Officer, you'll assist in the preparation of hearings with scheduling support, and correspond with witnesses and social workers to explain the hearings processes, dealing with queries and providing support. Our hearings are primarily heard virtually however some matters may be dealt with in person or a hybrid of the two.

In addition, you will:

Support the hearings case managers to schedule hearings and meetings and obtain dates of availability for social workers and witnesses to attend. Provide high quality and professional customer service to people at all stages of the hearing process. Support the hearings officers with the running of in-person, hybrid or virtual fitness to practise hearings and meetings. Send information and documents to parties ahead of hearings and meetings, and sharing outcomes and further information after the meetings have concluded. Liaise with our representatives to ensure documentation and arrangements for witnesses are in place before and during the hearing. Regularly exchange information with a range of people including social workers, witnesses and the adjudicators. Provide support for vulnerable witnesses or social workers at hearings, solving issues and removing barriers to their participation. Provide general administrative support. Support the development and improvement of procedures, processes and templates.

About You

At Social Work England, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We are collaborative, curious, inclusive, confident and reflective. We're looking for someone who can embody these values, inspire others, and contribute to our ambition to be an innovative, transparent and responsive regulator that makes a real difference to people's lives.

In this role we are also looking for:

Great customer service skills and the ability to work with a range of people sensitively, including witnesses who may be vulnerable, people with health concerns and people from diverse backgrounds. Excellent collaboration and communication skills, and a great attention to detail. Ability to quickly gain knowledge and understanding of policy, procedures, and guidance; and experience of applying these in your work. Strong interpersonal skills, being sensitive to the needs of others and flexible in your approach whilst managing expectations. The ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately and follow data protection procedures. A good understanding of Microsoft Office programmes, and other IT skills such as video conferencing and case management systems. Creative and proactive problem solving skills. Comfortable working to deadlines as part of a team in an organised and efficient manner, and handling a busy and varied workload. A demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From 26,828.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Company pension Cycle to work scheme Flexitime Free flu jabs Life insurance On-site gym Work from home
Work Location: In person