Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire West & Chester (CW&C) is a large unitary authority where placements are offered in a range of teams that can offer support and challenge to students. Placements are well structured and access to case management systems prompt self-directed inductions covering NHS colleagues in co-located settings. Placements allow swift and direct engagement with service users and opportunities to shadow other teams and services. CW&C offers Step-Up to Social Work and will be supporting Social Work Apprenticeships. Progression is clear and well-supported in both adult and children’s services. There are placement opportunities in teams with expertise in the following areas;

• • Community Access Team – Initial advice and assessment under the Care Act 2014
  • Older People’s Locality Teams – Assessment and care planning for older people and people with a physical disability. Safeguarding
  • Hospital Social Work – Assessment and care planning for people with care needs after a period of hospitalization. Safeguarding
  • Adult Safeguarding Unit – Section 42 Care Act enquiries into concerns about abuse and neglect of vulnerable people
  • Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards/Best Interests Assessor – Mental Capacity Act assessment and authorisation
  • Review – Care Act reviews. Assessment and care planning for adults with a learning disability: Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005. Safeguarding
  • Community Mental Health – Assessment and care planning for adults with mental health needs: Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Mental Health Act 1983 duties including Approved Mental Health Professional. Safeguarding
  • Child in Need (CIN) – Working with Children and Young People who are in need of care and protection, undertaking joint work with qualified Social Workers; Single Assessments, duty visits, CIN meetings, Child Protection.
  • Children in Care – Key statutory Social Work including court work and developing Permanence Plans
  • Emergency Duty Team (EDT) – Generic Social Work dealing with vulnerable children and adults, Mental Health Act assessments, Appropriate Adults and out of hours homelessness placements. A quality placement for a student that is able to learn to straddle all areas of Social Work practice. This require creative Social Work and risk assessment skills to work with high risk and crisis situations.
  • Integrated Access and Referral Team (i-ART) – Office based role assessing the support and safeguarding needs of families and gathering information to inform decision making in relation to risk. The role does not include face-face contact but opportunities can be created for shadowing CIN/EDT Social Workers if required.
  • Provider Services – Mainstream Fostering team working closely with children and young people and supporting Foster Carers. Opportunities to undertake Fostering Assessments, help identify short/long term placements, review the ongoing suitability of approved Foster Carers and assist with recruitment.
  • Leaving Care Team – Working with young people aged 15 to 18 years who are looked after in various settings including; residential, foster care, semi-independent and hospital.  Students have the opportunity to develop Pathway Plans and develop Risk Management Plans with individuals who display complex and challenging behaviours
  • Transitions and Disabilities Team – Working with those aged 16 to 25 years who have disabilities. Students gain experience in both Children’s & Adult Social Work practice with a range of opportunities including Children and Families Assessments, Care Act Assessments, CIN, Child Protection, Looked After Children, DoLS and mental capacity work.