Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and hardworking individual to join Social Care Direct. This is a fantastic chance to make a real difference in your community as the first point of contact for people accessing Adult Social Care services across County Durham. As part of our multi-disciplinary team, which includes Social Workers and Occupational Therapy staff, you'll provide vital support and guidance to those in need.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
As a Social Care Officer within the team, you will be the first point of contact for enquiries received through a range of channels, including telephone, email, and text. You'll respond to contacts from both the public and professionals from partner organisations, offering advice, information, and support around universal services, signposting to appropriate agencies where needed, as well as taking referrals when appropriate.
Social Care Direct operates 8.30am - 5pm on Monday - Thursday and 8.30am-4.30pm on Friday. You will be on a rota for the days you attend the office.
We encourage you to contact Karen Sharkey, Team Manager or Angela Pattern, Senior SCO via email to arrange an informal discussion about the role.
WHAT WILL I NEED?
Applicants should have experience of working in a fast-paced customer service environment, with excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure. A good understanding of Adult Care legislation is advantageous. You should be confident in unpicking complex issues and able to communicate clearly with the wide range of service user groups under Adult Services.
Required Qualifications: 5 GCSEs including English Language (9-5/A-C grades) or equivalent.
Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held week commencing 8th December 2025.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
OUR OFFER TO YOU
We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years' continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our
Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
HOW TO APPLY
Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the 'Person Specification' section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our
If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email
All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from . Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don't miss any updates.
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