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Social Worker - Supported Living Services
| Posting date: | 02 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,412 to £46,075 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 01 March 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Reading Borough Council is seeking a passionate, creative and strengths‑based Social Worker to join an exciting programme focused on promoting independence, wellbeing and personalised approaches for adults with care and support needs.
This is a unique opportunity to work in a specialist role dedicated to improving how we support people to live the lives they want, build on their strengths and networks, and have choice and control over the support they receive. You will play a key part in shaping practice and driving positive change across Adult Social Care in Reading.
We seek talent from the widest pool as diversity and inclusion are central to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the Role:
As a Social Worker in this innovative programme, you will work with people across a range of community settings to promote self‑determination, resilience and independence. Your work will focus on enabling people to identify what matters to them and to create personalised, outcome‑focused plans that build on existing strengths, family and community networks, and creative solutions.
You will:
Champion strengths‑based, person‑centred practice in all interactions
Work collaboratively with individuals, families and partners to promote independence, choice and improved quality of life
Support the development of best practice approaches and contribute to continuous service improvement
Work closely with the project Occupational Therapist, provider partners, Housing Services and Health colleagues to enable holistic solutions
Apply legislation, policy and professional frameworks confidently and ethically
Contribute to shaping innovative, creative and empowering ways of working across Adult Social Care in Reading
This role combines direct social work practice with the opportunity to influence and improve services at a system level.
Supported Living:
We currently support around 380 people living in supported living services, delivered by approximately 50 providers, ranging from a few hours of weekly support to 24/7 services.
Our aim is to work collaboratively with people, families and providers to:
Embed strengths-based, outcome-focused support planning
Increase the use of assistive technology and digital solutions
Ensure reablement and enablement approaches are central to support
Support people to move towards greater independence where possible
Ensure services are co-produced with the people who live in them
Implement and embed the REACH standards consistently across the market
The role requires the ability to undertake regular home visits to ensure meaningful engagement and timely support. Applicants must be confident working independently in the community, managing their own schedule, and responding professionally to a range of situations within the home environment.
The post also requires flexibility to complete urgent or unplanned visits at short notice when the needs arise, ensuring that risk is assessed promptly and appropriate action is taken to keep people safe.
About you:
You will hold a degree in Social Work and be registered with Social Work England. An interest in supported living and in exploring and developing new ways of working is important, along with being open to innovation and change both as a participant and a leader. You will demonstrate a passion for improving services for people, strong influencing skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with team members, providers, and partner organisations.
About Reading:
We offer excellent support, supervision, and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new professional skills, helping you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio and supporting you to grow as a Social Worker.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer:
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
Maternity, adoption, parental and sick pay
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Access to a range of training and learning opportunities to help you develop
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
If you would like to find out more about this role and the team, please contact Sandra Sheldon – Review Team – Team Manager - sandra.sheldon@reading.gov.ukor call 07834 802 697
Closing date: Sunday 1st March 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Interview setup: In person at the Civic Offices, Reading
This is a unique opportunity to work in a specialist role dedicated to improving how we support people to live the lives they want, build on their strengths and networks, and have choice and control over the support they receive. You will play a key part in shaping practice and driving positive change across Adult Social Care in Reading.
We seek talent from the widest pool as diversity and inclusion are central to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the Role:
As a Social Worker in this innovative programme, you will work with people across a range of community settings to promote self‑determination, resilience and independence. Your work will focus on enabling people to identify what matters to them and to create personalised, outcome‑focused plans that build on existing strengths, family and community networks, and creative solutions.
You will:
Champion strengths‑based, person‑centred practice in all interactions
Work collaboratively with individuals, families and partners to promote independence, choice and improved quality of life
Support the development of best practice approaches and contribute to continuous service improvement
Work closely with the project Occupational Therapist, provider partners, Housing Services and Health colleagues to enable holistic solutions
Apply legislation, policy and professional frameworks confidently and ethically
Contribute to shaping innovative, creative and empowering ways of working across Adult Social Care in Reading
This role combines direct social work practice with the opportunity to influence and improve services at a system level.
Supported Living:
We currently support around 380 people living in supported living services, delivered by approximately 50 providers, ranging from a few hours of weekly support to 24/7 services.
Our aim is to work collaboratively with people, families and providers to:
Embed strengths-based, outcome-focused support planning
Increase the use of assistive technology and digital solutions
Ensure reablement and enablement approaches are central to support
Support people to move towards greater independence where possible
Ensure services are co-produced with the people who live in them
Implement and embed the REACH standards consistently across the market
The role requires the ability to undertake regular home visits to ensure meaningful engagement and timely support. Applicants must be confident working independently in the community, managing their own schedule, and responding professionally to a range of situations within the home environment.
The post also requires flexibility to complete urgent or unplanned visits at short notice when the needs arise, ensuring that risk is assessed promptly and appropriate action is taken to keep people safe.
About you:
You will hold a degree in Social Work and be registered with Social Work England. An interest in supported living and in exploring and developing new ways of working is important, along with being open to innovation and change both as a participant and a leader. You will demonstrate a passion for improving services for people, strong influencing skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with team members, providers, and partner organisations.
About Reading:
We offer excellent support, supervision, and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new professional skills, helping you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio and supporting you to grow as a Social Worker.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
Our offer:
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
Maternity, adoption, parental and sick pay
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Access to a range of training and learning opportunities to help you develop
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
If you would like to find out more about this role and the team, please contact Sandra Sheldon – Review Team – Team Manager - sandra.sheldon@reading.gov.ukor call 07834 802 697
Closing date: Sunday 1st March 2026
Interview date: To be confirmed
Interview setup: In person at the Civic Offices, Reading
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.