Job summary
Until recently Wisteria operated as a twelve bedded National and Specialist Unit for Eating disorders in adolescence. The service model was recently reviewed and revised, but the unit was temporarily closed due to the Covid pandemic. The unit is now due to reopen. As an interim measure it currently is a seven bedded unit adjacent but separate from the Adult inpatient Unit. The CAMHS unit will however still operate within the CAMHS Campus. The ward is being refurbished and will be ready in Spring 2022. We operate our CAMHS inpatient wards as part of The South London Partnership and therefore work closely with the out patient services provided at both this trust and within SLAM
You will be expected to provide a social work service as part of the multidisciplinary team working with adolescent eating disordered inpatients. The social worker role is frequently concerned with representing the ward when liaising with different agencies to promote the needs of the young person in preparation for discharge, sitting at the interface between community and inpatient services in both health and social care. The ability to work with articulate and at times challenging parents in a supportive manner is essential.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for skilled and highly motivated Child and Family social worker with some experience of multidisciplinary/multiagency working. This is a stand-alone Social Work Post within a CAMHS mental health inpatient setting. The ability to offer leadership and represent the core values of social work within this setting is central to this work.
Experience or familiarity with CAMHS work is essential as would at least a rudimentary knowledge of the Mental Health and Mental Capacity Acts. Knowledge of Eating Disorders whilst desirable is not essential.
Good literacy and communication skills are essential as is the ability to think on one's feet. An ability to represent a view within the structure of a Mental Health Act Tribunal is a requirement.
The role offers an opportunity to develop highly specialist skills and an opportunity to represent social work in a health setting. The role is greatly valued by the ward. The tasks are interesting and varied. The case load is protected and whilst the nature of the work is intense the integrated nature of the team leads to a collaborative approach and the work can be rewarding. The social workers are also supported by being part of a small social work team lead by the Head of Social Work with supervision provided by the CAMHS Social Work Team Manager.
About us
We offer a number of excellent staff benefits and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. Some of our benefits are highlighted here:
- Generous pay, pensions and leave,we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance,we support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working, job sharing, term-time working, compressed hours and working from home.
- Career development,There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
- Subsidised car parking- You can park at any of our sites at a reduced rate of £20/month.
- NHS discounts,with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
- Eye examinations
- Looking after your health
- Cycle to work scheme
- Car lease scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Childcare vouchers
- Staff restaurants
- Free gym membership
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To liaise and interface with multidisciplinary staff within service area.
- To liaise and work with external agencies, in particular Local Authority Childrens Services and CAMHS Community Services (Tier 3).
- To be responsible for investigating and advising with regard to complex and highly sensitive and often confidential information, relating to safeguarding cases and other cases where there are high risk social factors
- To provide written reports for a variety of purposes and audiences including social circumstances reports for Mental Health Tribunals and Managers Hearings; safeguarding investigation reports; social work reports for use within the Service and for communication with external health and social care organisations and possibly for the Courts; periodic audits and evaluations of aspects of service; periodic analytical reports on social work and social care practices and issues within the service area for the Directorate and/or for the Head of Social Work.
- To develop and provide consultation to other services and agencies. This may include consulting to individual clinicians or to multi-disciplinary teams, comprising the full range of mental health professionals, including Social Services, Health Services, Educational Services, Housing, Police and CJS and voluntary and other statutory agencies
- To supervise less experienced social workers in day-to-day clinical practice
- To maintain up-to-date and detailed knowledge and awareness of relevant legislation (including its application to unusual circumstances that occur in specialist mental health services), guidance and Trust policies and procedures, and to work within these.
- To maintain high standards of professional practice, working at all times in the best interests of service users and carers,
- To contribute to the assessment of young people and their families admitted to the ward in such a way as to ensure safe discharge planning
- To work closely with all members of relevant service to achieve the best possible outcomes
- To promote the interests and welfare of all patients and their families with particular reference to the
- To lead on adult and child safeguarding within service area and to act as a key point of liaison for the team between the Service and local and regional statutory childrens and adults safeguarding and child protection services within Local Authorities and other partner agencies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To liaise and interface with multidisciplinary staff within service area.
- To liaise and work with external agencies, in particular Local Authority Childrens Services and CAMHS Community Services (Tier 3).
- To be responsible for investigating and advising with regard to complex and highly sensitive and often confidential information, relating to safeguarding cases and other cases where there are high risk social factors
- To provide written reports for a variety of purposes and audiences including social circumstances reports for Mental Health Tribunals and Managers Hearings; safeguarding investigation reports; social work reports for use within the Service and for communication with external health and social care organisations and possibly for the Courts; periodic audits and evaluations of aspects of service; periodic analytical reports on social work and social care practices and issues within the service area for the Directorate and/or for the Head of Social Work.
- To develop and provide consultation to other services and agencies. This may include consulting to individual clinicians or to multi-disciplinary teams, comprising the full range of mental health professionals, including Social Services, Health Services, Educational Services, Housing, Police and CJS and voluntary and other statutory agencies
- To supervise less experienced social workers in day-to-day clinical practice
- To maintain up-to-date and detailed knowledge and awareness of relevant legislation (including its application to unusual circumstances that occur in specialist mental health services), guidance and Trust policies and procedures, and to work within these.
- To maintain high standards of professional practice, working at all times in the best interests of service users and carers,
- To contribute to the assessment of young people and their families admitted to the ward in such a way as to ensure safe discharge planning
- To work closely with all members of relevant service to achieve the best possible outcomes
- To promote the interests and welfare of all patients and their families with particular reference to the
- To lead on adult and child safeguarding within service area and to act as a key point of liaison for the team between the Service and local and regional statutory childrens and adults safeguarding and child protection services within Local Authorities and other partner agencies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised social work qualification or equivalent
- Current registration with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) register of qualified social workers
- Attainment at postgraduate/ Masters level in relevant area of study
- Evidence of relevant post-qualifying formal study / professional development
Desirable
- Completion of post- qualifying award or advanced award in social work
- Commitment to additional training relevant to post
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable extended post qualification experience in a social work setting with an emphasis on children and young people with mental health problems
- Experience of dealing with complex caseloads and working in a multi-disciplinary mental health service
- Experience of child and adult safeguarding practice
- Experience of supervising other social work staff
- Experience of providing consultation and advice
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of policy development
- Experience of working with specific client group relevant to the service area
- Experience of working with interpreters
- Previous experience of giving presentations particularly in promoting awareness and issues or academic research
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of social work within a mental health setting with an emphasis on children and young people
- Knowledge of relevant safeguarding, social care and mental health legislation
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant occupational policies and the law relating to children & young people
- Skills and knowledge to communicate around child and/or adult safeguarding matters and disclosure of sensitive information
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised social work qualification or equivalent
- Current registration with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) register of qualified social workers
- Attainment at postgraduate/ Masters level in relevant area of study
- Evidence of relevant post-qualifying formal study / professional development
Desirable
- Completion of post- qualifying award or advanced award in social work
- Commitment to additional training relevant to post
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable extended post qualification experience in a social work setting with an emphasis on children and young people with mental health problems
- Experience of dealing with complex caseloads and working in a multi-disciplinary mental health service
- Experience of child and adult safeguarding practice
- Experience of supervising other social work staff
- Experience of providing consultation and advice
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of policy development
- Experience of working with specific client group relevant to the service area
- Experience of working with interpreters
- Previous experience of giving presentations particularly in promoting awareness and issues or academic research
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of social work within a mental health setting with an emphasis on children and young people
- Knowledge of relevant safeguarding, social care and mental health legislation
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant occupational policies and the law relating to children & young people
- Skills and knowledge to communicate around child and/or adult safeguarding matters and disclosure of sensitive 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.
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
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).
