Oxford Health NHS Trust

Specialist Social Worker – Infected Blood Psychological Service

The closing date is 23 November 2025

Job summary

Are you a compassionate, skilled professional passionate about supporting individuals through challenging journeys?

We are recruiting for a part-time Specialist Social Worker to join our new Infected Blood Psychological Service, a specialist team dedicated to providing expert emotional and practical support to those affected by infected blood. Please note this role is part-time working 30 hours per week.

This sensitive role involves guiding clients through their psychological and social care needs with empathy, respect, and understanding. You will work closely with individuals and families to help them access appropriate services, empower their choices, and support their wellbeing.

Key qualities we seek:

  • Strong interpersonal skills with a sensitive, person-centred approach
  • Experience in social work within health or psychological services
  • Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams
  • Commitment to confidentiality, dignity, and respect for lived experiences.
  • Strong leadership in adult social care or safeguarding.

This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a supportive, specialised environment. If you are motivated by empathy, advocacy, and helping people find hope and strength, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

Clinical and Clinical Governance

  • To manage own caseload of patients.
  • To carry out comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and identify their psychosocial needs (using evidence-based tools or developing your own tools/pathways to do this as necessary).

Management and Leadership

  • To contribute to the development of the IBPS, shaping policies, guidance and protocols.
  • Provide supervision and mentorship to junior staff, students or volunteers when required.
  • To contribute to the development and improvement of the IBPS through generating ideas and participating in projects, under supervision from more senior members of the team.

Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details

Date posted

10 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum | pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

267-CS7524273

Job locations

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The post holder will provide specialist social worker input for beneficiaries of the Infected Blood Psychological Support Service (IBPS). The IBPS is one of several new services across England commissioned by NHS England following the recent Infected Blood Inquiry with the aim to support patients and their families infected/affected by contaminated blood products.

The service provides multidisciplinary care for those infected and affected by contaminated blood products by:

  • Conducting outreach, psychological assessments and family interventions led by the social worker (post holder); and
  • Providing psychological therapies by the psychologists

It collaborates closely with its Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), while maintaining a distinct identity.The post holder will be responsible for planning, coordinating and evaluating the navigator service provided to individuals accessing the IBPS. This will involve providing highly specialised social work, which includes psychosocial assessments and interventions, leading outreach programmes and supporting the development of the newly founded service. The post holder will play an integral part in providing a multidisciplinary approach to supporting the beneficiaries of the service and of Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre.

Key Relationships

  • The IBPS core multidisciplinary team is comprised of Practitioner Psychologists and the Specialist Social Worker.
  • Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre multidisciplinary team is comprised of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Practitioner Psychologist, Physiotherapist and Consultants.
  • Beneficiaries of the IBPS.
  • The national IBPS and its regional and local branches.
  • Oxford Healths Safeguarding Service will provide professional supervision and peer support/ continuing professional development opportunities.
  • Peer support will also be available with IBPS social workers from other branches and also with other Social Workers.
  • Line management and clinical/caseload supervision will be provided by the Principal Clinical Psychologist for Haematology.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The post holder will provide specialist social worker input for beneficiaries of the Infected Blood Psychological Support Service (IBPS). The IBPS is one of several new services across England commissioned by NHS England following the recent Infected Blood Inquiry with the aim to support patients and their families infected/affected by contaminated blood products.

The service provides multidisciplinary care for those infected and affected by contaminated blood products by:

  • Conducting outreach, psychological assessments and family interventions led by the social worker (post holder); and
  • Providing psychological therapies by the psychologists

It collaborates closely with its Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), while maintaining a distinct identity.The post holder will be responsible for planning, coordinating and evaluating the navigator service provided to individuals accessing the IBPS. This will involve providing highly specialised social work, which includes psychosocial assessments and interventions, leading outreach programmes and supporting the development of the newly founded service. The post holder will play an integral part in providing a multidisciplinary approach to supporting the beneficiaries of the service and of Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre.

Key Relationships

  • The IBPS core multidisciplinary team is comprised of Practitioner Psychologists and the Specialist Social Worker.
  • Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre multidisciplinary team is comprised of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Practitioner Psychologist, Physiotherapist and Consultants.
  • Beneficiaries of the IBPS.
  • The national IBPS and its regional and local branches.
  • Oxford Healths Safeguarding Service will provide professional supervision and peer support/ continuing professional development opportunities.
  • Peer support will also be available with IBPS social workers from other branches and also with other Social Workers.
  • Line management and clinical/caseload supervision will be provided by the Principal Clinical Psychologist for Haematology.

Person Specification

Knowledge Requirements

Essential

  • Evidence and strengths based social work interventions relevant to the service
  • Knowledge of key issues relating to developments in Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI) and implication on service provision.
  • Expert knowledge relevant legislation: Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005

Desirable

  • Expert knowledge in Mental Health Act 1983

Experience

Essential

  • Experience at identifying and assessing the social needs of people living with long-term conditions
  • Experience of working with children, adults and their families.
  • Experience of safeguarding children and adults at risk.

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a hospital/clinical setting.
  • Experience of planning and delivering community engagement events.

Qualifications - Academic/Skills/Professional

Essential

  • BA (Hons) Social Work, or Dip SW or CQSW with current Social Work England registration.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

  • Evidence of training/ education in supporting long-term health conditions.
  • Best Interest Assessor Qualification.
  • Qualified Practice Educator.
Person Specification

Knowledge Requirements

Essential

  • Evidence and strengths based social work interventions relevant to the service
  • Knowledge of key issues relating to developments in Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI) and implication on service provision.
  • Expert knowledge relevant legislation: Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005

Desirable

  • Expert knowledge in Mental Health Act 1983

Experience

Essential

  • Experience at identifying and assessing the social needs of people living with long-term conditions
  • Experience of working with children, adults and their families.
  • Experience of safeguarding children and adults at risk.

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a hospital/clinical setting.
  • Experience of planning and delivering community engagement events.

Qualifications - Academic/Skills/Professional

Essential

  • BA (Hons) Social Work, or Dip SW or CQSW with current Social Work England registration.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

  • Evidence of training/ education in supporting long-term health conditions.
  • Best Interest Assessor Qualification.
  • Qualified Practice Educator.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Associate Director of Social Work and Social Care

Daniel Mercier

daniel.mercier@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

07787485728

Details

Date posted

10 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum | pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

267-CS7524273

Job locations

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Oxford

OX3 9DU


Supporting documents

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