Job summary
We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated mental health social workers to join our experienced and welcoming forensic social work service.
East London NHS Foundation Trust is the regional provider of secure mental health services in east London. The inpatient units are the John Howard Centre (medium-secure) in Hackney, and Wolfson House (low-secure) in the Finsbury Park area. There are specialist services for women, for men with a learning disability, and for men with autism. All inpatients are detained under the Mental Health Act.
Social workers work as part of multi-disciplinary teams attached to individual wards, and provide a social care perspective to all aspects of care, treatment and discharge planning.
Main duties of the job
- To provide a comprehensive social work service to all patients on the ward.
- To provide active contribution of the social care perspective to forensic risk assessment and care planning.
- To prepare full written reports and present evidence at First-tier Tribunals and Hospital Managers Hearings. To offer considered recommendations.
- To ensure that relevant legislation is applied to promote patient care and the safety of the public. In particular to be familiar with and apply the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Code of Practice, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Care Act 2014 and other relevant statute and guidance.
- To liaise with external agencies including Probation, Victim Liaison, MAPPA, in accordance with directorate policy.
- To lead on safeguarding concerns (adults and children)
About us
Social workers in ELFT work across a range of settings including Adult and Older Person's Mental Health, Forensic, Crisis and CAMH's Services and increasingly in Primary Care settings.
There are social workers in various management posts across ELFT including a Director of Social Work and a Learning and Development Lead for Social Work.
Wherever the base, ELFT values the skills and contribution of social workers and encourages them to maintain the requirements of their professional registration and will uphold the values and practice of Social Work across the organisation.
We want social workers to feel valued and supported in ELFT and to promote and support social work as a profession.
We will offer you:
- Training and development opportunities specific to social work including ASYE, AMHP training and PE training
- Social work professional supervision
- Social work forums and seminars
- A voice in the organisation and recognition of the skills and values you bring
- The opportunity to progress through the organisation as a social worker in a senior role
Job description
Job responsibilities
We will offer you:
- Training and development opportunities specific to social work including ASYE, AMHP training and PE training
- Social work professional supervision
- Social work forums and seminars
- A voice in the organisation and recognition of the skills and values you bring
- The opportunity to progress through the organisation as a social worker in a senior role
Please refer to the job description and person specification
Job description
Job responsibilities
We will offer you:
- Training and development opportunities specific to social work including ASYE, AMHP training and PE training
- Social work professional supervision
- Social work forums and seminars
- A voice in the organisation and recognition of the skills and values you bring
- The opportunity to progress through the organisation as a social worker in a senior role
Please refer to the job description and person specification
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- CQSW, DipSW or equivalent social work qualification.
- Current Social Work England (or equivalent) registration.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial post-qualifying experience of working with people with severe and enduring mental health problems.
- Experience of working with mentally disordered offenders.
- Experience of working in an ethnically diverse community.
- Familiarity with practising in an ethnically diverse community and working with interpreters
- Experience of advancement of human rights and promotion of social justice and economic well-being
- Familiarity with criminal justice system and roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Able to use judgement and authority to intervene with individuals, families and communities to promote independence, provide support and prevent harm, neglect and abuse
- Ability to work from a social care perspective with patients who have committed serious criminal offences and who may be experiencing severe and/or enduring mental health problems, including those with a diagnosed learning disability or personality disorder.
- Extensive knowledge of theory, legislation and good practice guidance in relation to mental health care, particularly those aspects which relate specifically to mentally disordered offenders.
- An applied knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understanding of best interest principles, Deprivation of Liberty safeguards assessments, etc.
- Comprehensive working knowledge of other relevant social care legislation including Human Rights Act 1998, Care Act 2014.
- Ability to communicate effectively with staff and other clinical stakeholders.
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with victims and/or their representatives.
- Able to identify and Behave As a Professional Social Worker, Committed To Professional DevelopmentAbility to determine priorities against competing demands, and to assume responsibility for organising own working time and practices in an effective and accountable manner.
- Ability to undertake care co-ordinator responsibilities under the Care Programme Approach, and to undertake responsibilities as Social Supervisor for conditionally discharged patients.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- CQSW, DipSW or equivalent social work qualification.
- Current Social Work England (or equivalent) registration.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial post-qualifying experience of working with people with severe and enduring mental health problems.
- Experience of working with mentally disordered offenders.
- Experience of working in an ethnically diverse community.
- Familiarity with practising in an ethnically diverse community and working with interpreters
- Experience of advancement of human rights and promotion of social justice and economic well-being
- Familiarity with criminal justice system and roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Able to use judgement and authority to intervene with individuals, families and communities to promote independence, provide support and prevent harm, neglect and abuse
- Ability to work from a social care perspective with patients who have committed serious criminal offences and who may be experiencing severe and/or enduring mental health problems, including those with a diagnosed learning disability or personality disorder.
- Extensive knowledge of theory, legislation and good practice guidance in relation to mental health care, particularly those aspects which relate specifically to mentally disordered offenders.
- An applied knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understanding of best interest principles, Deprivation of Liberty safeguards assessments, etc.
- Comprehensive working knowledge of other relevant social care legislation including Human Rights Act 1998, Care Act 2014.
- Ability to communicate effectively with staff and other clinical stakeholders.
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with victims and/or their representatives.
- Able to identify and Behave As a Professional Social Worker, Committed To Professional DevelopmentAbility to determine priorities against competing demands, and to assume responsibility for organising own working time and practices in an effective and accountable manner.
- Ability to undertake care co-ordinator responsibilities under the Care Programme Approach, and to undertake responsibilities as Social Supervisor for conditionally discharged patients.
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).
