Level 2 Forensic Social Worker

Job responsibilities

The Forensic Social Worker will have a key role to play in relation to supporting the delivery both the Recovery, personalisation and social inclusion agendas ensuring quality public facing services including health and social care services. The role will involve assessing; accessing; and implementing a range of social care services, and providing guidance/advice and information for adults with acute or long term physical health, mental health needs and for older people and carers.

The post holder will be required to be an integrated and supportive member of a multi-disciplinary team within the Secure setting, planning, actioning, monitoring and evaluating work with the supervision of an experienced Social Worker and/or the Head of Forensic Social Work.

The post holder will act as an experienced and independent practitioner within the role, assessing, formulating, implementing and agreeing care and support plans with adults and carers. The post holder will refer to the Forensic Lead or other Senior Colleagues wherever guidance and support is needed and/or in relation to high profile, complex and/or very high cost or challenging cases.

The post holder is responsible for supporting the delivery of health and social care functions for adults/carers within the Hospital/ Inpatient settings and potentially Community settings and providing social work knowledge and expertise within the domain of assessments, care and support planning, reviews and requests for information, advice and guidance.

The post holder is responsible for working collaboratively with other Trust services to provide seamless care for adults/carers on defined care and support pathways with particular emphasis on ensuring safe and effective transitions.

The post-holder is responsible for working in partnership with agencies external to the Trust supporting adults/carers to access services/support in the independent and non-statutory sector.

The post holder will be responsible for upholding Trust Quality standards including Customer Services quality standards to all callers including adults/carers new and/or known to the service, and for obtaining and recording with care and providing up to date/accurate case and performance recording requirements.

To promote the rights of individuals receiving a service to be treated with dignity and respect, and to promote their involvement in all aspects of the service they receive valuing choice and promoting independence where ever possible.

To provide a comprehensive forensic social work service including contribution to specialist social work assessment (Care Act 2014) to patients within the unit. This includes active contribution of the social care perspective in complex forensic risk assessment and care planning through the Care Programme Approach (CPA) and liaison with the area of origin for discharge planning purposes.

Represent the social care perspective within the forensic multi-disciplinary team to promote a holistic approach to care and treatment.

To maintain a caseload of specialist casework as agreed with the team leader.

Where appropriate to act as Social Supervisor for certain discharged patients subject to Ministry of Justice Restriction orders and to act as nominated Care Co-ordinator for certain other discharged patients, as determined on clinical grounds.

To liaise effectively with statutory and non-statutory bodies in formulating comprehensive assessments of need and in identifying appropriate resources for service users to include liaising with services from area of origin.

To negotiate complex packages of care with relevant statutory agencies and to put these care packages into effect applying policies relevant to funding authority where appropriate.

In accordance with local policy and good practice guidance, to manage issues of confidentiality in relation to all patients, including those with high media profile.

To ensure a high standard of record keeping and the integrity of files.

To prepare full and regular written reports for clinical team review meetings and CPA review meetings and to attend such meetings regularly on all in-patients and community patients.

To prepare comprehensive statutory reports for Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers Hearings and to attend and give evidence at such meetings. To offer considered recommendations to these bodies.

If required to provide written reports for Crown or Magistrates Courts and to attend and give verbal evidence as required. To offer considered recommendations to these bodies.

To provide statutory reports as required by the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Justice and to be proactive in initiating contact with the MoJ as necessary regarding individual clients. To offer considered recommendations.

To be proactive in regularly meeting and reviewing all allocated patients.

To initiate contact with families and informal carers and undertake formal Carers Assessments in accordance with statutory legislation (where applicable).

To ensure that relevant legislation is applied to promote patient care and the safety of the public. In particular, as AMHPs, to apply the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 & 2007 (including provisions under Part III of the act) and duties in relation to Community Treatment Orders.

As an AMHP, to practice in line with the current MHA Code of Practice and in line with local AMHP policies. If not an AMHP to proactively seek qualification as an AMHP

Follow the principles and work within the policy of the Care Programme Approach (CPA).

To refer cases to the Multi-Agency Public Protect Arrangements (MAPPA) in accordance with directorate policy and to present cases at this and other multi-agency forums as required.

To uphold child protection legislation, safeguarding children policy and good practice guidance, particularly in relation to child visitors to the unit and patient discharge and leave of absence arrangements.

To uphold local protocols in relation to the protection and safeguarding of vulnerable adults.

To take personal responsibility for maintaining current knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, case law, research and publications including Mental Capacity Act 1995, DOLS, IMHA, IMCA, and Court of Protection.

To ensure that the requirements for social work registration are fully met and registration continuously maintained.

To provide activity data as required by the department.

As appropriate, to work with members of the clinical team in developing and implementing audit and research tools.

To act as an advisor to colleagues in non-forensic settings.

To act at all times in accord with the policies of Midland Partnership Foundation Trust and the local policies and procedures of the Forensic Directorate.

To contribute to the development and provision of therapeutic activity/group work within the unit, appropriate to skill and competency level.

To take responsibility for continued professional development including for example AMHP refresher training and undertake the necessary training and development to gain or re-approve as an AMHP and to maintain registration as a social worker with Social Work England.

To undertake other delegated duties as directed by the Head of Forensic Social Work, commensurate with the grading of the post.

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Social Work qualification, DipSW, CQSW, CSS, BA, MA or Foreign qualification where certified by the Professional Social Work regulatory body
• Ensuring current registration with the Professional Social Work regulatory body at all times.
• Willingness to obtain AMHP status and contribute to local rotas
• Significant post qualifying experience/ qualifications
• Good keyboard / IT skills including word processing, spreadsheets, email and PowerPoint
• An ongoing commitment to personal and professional development.
• A clear understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice

Desirable

• Existing accreditation relating to Practice Educator/Work Based Supervisor
• To undertake and achieve the status of Work Based Supervisor and Practice Educator as per the SWLA Career Pathway
• To hold/to undertake and achieve the status of Approved Mental Health Professional and/or Best Interest Assessor as per the SWLA Career Pathway

Experience

Essential

• Significant post-qualification experience of working with adults with forensic mental health needs/ adults involved in the criminal justice system and their carers
• Familiarisation with specialist forensic risk assessment tools

Desirable

• Experience of social work in other user groups/settings i.e. Children and Families, Learning Disabilities, Autism, Older Adults
• Experience of a development role for service/ facilities
• Training in accredited forensic risk assessment eg HONOS, HCR20v3

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Essential

• Have a working knowledge/familiarity of a range of legislation including but not limited to: oThe Care Act oThe Mental Capacity Act oThe Mental Health Act oThe Equalities Act and an awareness of other legislation as it relates to people with mental health difficulties including Children and Families, Housing etc
• An understanding of the benefits and challenges regarding multi-disciplinary working
• An ability to work as part of a team including multi-disciplinary working with adults, carers and other professionals
• Knowledge and skills associated with the development of complex care packages for adults and carers where additional funding is required.
• Ability to negotiate with other agencies to ensure timely response and outcomes for adults and carers
• An ability to self-motivate, an ability to reflect on own practice and apply critical thinking/analytical skills
• An ability to work co-operatively and positively with voluntary organisations and other statutory agencies
• Good organisational skills - an ability to manage time, prioritise work and meet deadlines
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal in order to communicate with people using services (adults/carers), and with staff and partners in an open and honest way using inclusive language.
• Ability to concentrate on data analysis; carry out audits; write reports; deal with frequent interruptions; deal with unpredictable service user and staff demands
• Working knowledge of IT and the ability to work effectively with electronic recording systems
• Current driving licence
• Have a sound values base and the ability to demonstrate it consistently through work practice and show a commitment to the philosophy and principles of the service
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant safeguarding legislation
• An ability to participate in training delivery as and when required.
• Confidence to resolve conflict and confrontations.
• An ability to prepare concise regular written reports
• To be highly motivated and have a capacity to make things happen for individuals
• To be organised, practice good time management and take responsibility for own work load and planning
• Ability to challenge stigma and promote positive images of Mental Health
• Awareness of Mental Health legislation, current thinking in Mental Health, Personalisation, Social Inclusion and Wellbeing
• Ability to reflect openly on own strengths and development needs, related to the work role within supervision sessions.

Desirable

• Social Work leadership skills

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to work under pressure, deploy social resilience strategies
• An awareness and commitment to involving adults and carers in the planning and developing of services
• A commitment to equality of opportunities, and anti-oppressive/anti-discriminatory practice.
• A passion for promoting the rights and entitlements for those who face discrimination as a result of a mental ill health
• A champion for the values and objectives of well-being, prevention, early intervention and Social Care values in enabling people to exercise choice and control over their lives
• A desire for working in partnership with other statutory, voluntary, non-profit and private agencies.
• A passion for diversity and commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice
• To behave with honesty and integrity

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).