Job summary
HEAD OF FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK
Forensics & High Secure Services
Band 8B £64,408 - £73,961 inclusive of allowances
37.5hrs per week
This amazing opportunity manages the Forensic Social Work Team Managers at Broadmoor Hospital/West London Forensic Services respectively. The post holder will provide visible leadership to the Social Workers, supervising the Senior Practitioner and Social Work Team Managers on both sites.
The successful candidate will represent the Forensic Social Work Team at a range of managerial, safeguarding and clinical meetings, e.g. Senior Management Team meetings, Weekly Heads of Service meetings, Clinical Governance Committee, Reducing Restrictive Practices, Admissions Panels (Broadmoor Hospital), Security and High Risk Intelligence meetings where required.
Main duties of the job
This role manages the Forensic Social Work Team Managers at Broadmoor Hospital and also West London Forensic Services respectively. The post holder will provide visible leadership to the Social Workers, supervising the Senior Practitioner and Social Work Team Managers on both sites.
The post holder will provide advice to multidisciplinary team colleagues regarding social care in the forensic setting, including expertise on Child and Adult safeguarding, section 117 Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, victims' issues, MAPPA and MARAC. The post holder will facilitate through the Team Managers the provision of social work student placements and the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment for Newly Qualified Social Workers. The post holder will work collaboratively with their SMT colleagues at West London Forensic Service/Broadmoor Hospital, and provide consistent Social Work leadership and management across the two teams (where appropriate).
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Social Work or DipSW or CQSW
- Up-To-Date Social Work England Registration
- Post-qualifying training (formally or through evidenced on-the-job training in relevant areas of social work and/or mental health)
Desirable
- Relevant management/ leadership training
- AMHP qualification
- Qualifications relating to the Mental Capacity Act, e.g. Best Interests Assessor
- Practice Educator Qualification 1 and 2 (PEPS)
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience in mental health social work and in supervising social workers and/or social work students
- Extensive experience of working effectively with professional networks to ensure collaborative approaches and achieve results
- Experience of advising and consulting with senior multidisciplinary team colleagues about social work and community care issues
- Extensive experience in clinical management of complex teams
Desirable
- Experience of chairing Team meetings and Safeguarding meetings and Best Interests meetings, setting agendas and agreeing minutes of meetings
Knowledge
Essential
- Detailed knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act, and its associated Code of Practice
- Knowledge about the Mental Capacity Act and about assessing capacity and best interests
- Knowledge of Human Rights Act, and criminal justice legislation relevant to forensic mental health social work (including sex offending, arson, stalking and extremism)
- Detailed knowledge of section 117 MHA, and the relevant policies and procedures pertaining to ordinary residence and disputes
- Detailed knowledge of MAPPA and victim liaison requirements, carers' rights, Child and Adult safeguarding
- Knowledge of Equality and Diversity issues within mental health services
Skills
Essential
- Skills in writing clear and concise formal documents to a high standard of literacy, including providing assistance to team members with their reports
- Basic Microsoft Excel, MS Teams, Word and PowerPoint skills
- Written and verbal communication skills to engage with patients, carers and professionals at various levels of seniority across health and social care
- Skills in public speaking and presentation at public and private meetings
Other Requirements
Essential
- Interpersonal skills and resilience to manage highly complex emotional clinical situations, and in helping to resolve differences between colleagues
- Ability to undertake all statutory and mandatory training, including breakaway (subject to Occupational Health clearance)
- Ability to travel to the other Forensic Social Work Site (either Broadmoor Hospital or West London Forensic Service) to support cross site working and initiatives
- Willingness to contribute to Trust Wide Social Work forums and initiatives
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Social Work or DipSW or CQSW
- Up-To-Date Social Work England Registration
- Post-qualifying training (formally or through evidenced on-the-job training in relevant areas of social work and/or mental health)
Desirable
- Relevant management/ leadership training
- AMHP qualification
- Qualifications relating to the Mental Capacity Act, e.g. Best Interests Assessor
- Practice Educator Qualification 1 and 2 (PEPS)
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience in mental health social work and in supervising social workers and/or social work students
- Extensive experience of working effectively with professional networks to ensure collaborative approaches and achieve results
- Experience of advising and consulting with senior multidisciplinary team colleagues about social work and community care issues
- Extensive experience in clinical management of complex teams
Desirable
- Experience of chairing Team meetings and Safeguarding meetings and Best Interests meetings, setting agendas and agreeing minutes of meetings
Knowledge
Essential
- Detailed knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act, and its associated Code of Practice
- Knowledge about the Mental Capacity Act and about assessing capacity and best interests
- Knowledge of Human Rights Act, and criminal justice legislation relevant to forensic mental health social work (including sex offending, arson, stalking and extremism)
- Detailed knowledge of section 117 MHA, and the relevant policies and procedures pertaining to ordinary residence and disputes
- Detailed knowledge of MAPPA and victim liaison requirements, carers' rights, Child and Adult safeguarding
- Knowledge of Equality and Diversity issues within mental health services
Skills
Essential
- Skills in writing clear and concise formal documents to a high standard of literacy, including providing assistance to team members with their reports
- Basic Microsoft Excel, MS Teams, Word and PowerPoint skills
- Written and verbal communication skills to engage with patients, carers and professionals at various levels of seniority across health and social care
- Skills in public speaking and presentation at public and private meetings
Other Requirements
Essential
- Interpersonal skills and resilience to manage highly complex emotional clinical situations, and in helping to resolve differences between colleagues
- Ability to undertake all statutory and mandatory training, including breakaway (subject to Occupational Health clearance)
- Ability to travel to the other Forensic Social Work Site (either Broadmoor Hospital or West London Forensic Service) to support cross site working and initiatives
- Willingness to contribute to Trust Wide Social Work forums and initiatives
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
