Senior Forensic Social Work Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for the day to day operational running of the service alongside the Senior Nurse within the team. You will hold a small case load of service users with complex needs and will be responsible for supervising junior staff within the service. This may include ensuring new staff are appropriately inducted, that staff receive appropriate supervision, have an annual appraisal and are compliant with mandatory training requirements. Where appropriate this may also include the requirement you manage these staff in line with agreed Trust HR processes.As a senior member of the team you will be expected to act up for the Integrated Clinical Lead when necessary and attend senior management meetings within the Specialist Services Care Group and with partnership organisation when required.

You will assess, manage, care plan, support and review care needs in line with policy, procedures and legislation, including the provision of aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act. Act as a care coordinator and social supervisor for your own caseload. Responsible for supporting and advising management on specific complex social work related cases within the Forensic mental health services. Use strength based approaches to support service users, focusing on them achieving positive outcomes to enhance their wellbeing, look at prevention and increasing their independence in line with the Care Act (2014). Provide a clear picture of how a persons independence can be promoted and maximised. Promote conversations to draw on the support around each person, their networks, local community and personal resources and support with delivering statutory responsibilities under the Care Act (2014). Undertake risk assessments and develop risk management plans. Able to support positive risk taking. To ensure that service users open to the team are provided with robust social care assessments by all care co-ordinators and that Care Act assessments are carried out where an eligible assessed need is identified and personal budget plans are put in place. Act as a lead for the team in areas of social care for example supporting with Care Act assessments and related social care funding processes, knowledge around the MHA, MCA, Safeguarding and develop knowledge and skills locally. You will support adults to be safeguarded in line with the Care Act (2014), manage risk and meet eligible need.

Practice as an AMHP as required, responding effectively to referrals and enquiries. When operating as an AMHP you must be able to work in accordance with the relevant legislation, (including the Mental Health Act 1983, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2009 and related Codes, the Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010 and local policy. You must also fully comply with the Mental Health AMHP Regulations 2008. To lead and be responsible for the co-ordination of the Mental Health Act Assessment liaising closely with other professionals and involved others and inform effective understanding of practice / regulations within the multidisciplinary team. To ensure where appropriate that service users are referred for suitable follow-up care. You will be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive information in a hostile or highly emotive atmosphere ;highly complex, sensitive, contentious information/ in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere. You will be effective at communicating highly sensitive issues eg child protection, vulnerable adults, guardianship issues. You will be able to communicate information in an emotive atmosphere; deals with child protection, vulnerable adults, mental health issues, disclosure of sensitive information, bereavement, explaining legislation in emotive situations. You will be able to demonstrate specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and relevant practical experience in order to assess and provide care and support for service users with complex needs, their families and carers, including the assessment and management of risk.

You will be able to work autonomously within agreed policies and regulations. To understand and utilise Health and Social Care commissioned services, demonstrating an understanding of eligibility criteria for social care services, and working in collaboration with nursing and other health care colleagues to ensure the appropriate and timely presentation of cases to panel, and the robust reviewing of placements to ensure effective and efficient use of resources, and recovery based delivery of services. Establish therapeutic relationships with service users, their families and carers. Maintain client centred approach balanced with need to manage risk of harm or deterioration.

Contribute to multi agency team working, and participate in team meetings. Act as link worker as required advising other professionals relating to specific areas of expertise. To advise and support team on a range of social work issues as required. To support development of social work and act as a Practice Assessor for social work students. To support the development of the AMHP service and act as an AMHP Practice Assessor for AMHP students. Enable individuals families and carers to address issues which affect their health and social well-being.

To liaise with staff in a variety of settings, ensuring that teams are able to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of people with mental health difficulties in their care. To provide mental health advice and support for staff in hospital wards or A&E settings. To proactively work with patients, carers and ward staff to ensure access to the most appropriate care and to facilitate discharge as appropriate. Statutory responsibility for the assessment of carers (including young carers) needs and the formulation of a carers care plan in conjunction with the carers support workers. Prepare and present clear assessments and other reports as necessary to set out the basis of decisions made in respect of service users. Maintain all records to a high standard in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and procedures. Provide information, written assessments, reports and statements to support other service professionals, managers and agencies in making decisions related to care. Provide specialist reports to Mental Health Review Tribunals and Home Office for service users subject to the Mental Health Act.

This is not the full job description and full details of the role can be found in the attached job description.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

• Possession of recognised Social Work Qualification - Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
• Registration with HCPC Approved Mental Health Professional.

Desirable

• Studying or willingness to study towards full Post Qualification Award in Social Work

Knowledge

Essential

• Multi-disciplinary Social Care experience within multi-disciplinary team - relevant to people with mental health difficulties.
• Evidence of partnership working with other agencies including Social Care Services, Health Services, Voluntary Agencies and/or Education
• Experience of undertaking assessments and other duties in accordance with the Mental Health Act 1983 and Amendments 2007 and the Mental Capacity Act.
• Knowledge and understanding of Social Care practice as defined by HCPC and appropriate legislation and guidance.
• IT skills to enable effective input and retrieval of data and information.
• Understanding of the Mental Health Act 1983 and Amendment 2007 and Equality Act 2010 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Human Rights Act 1998

Desirable

• A variety of experiences working with people with mental health difficulties.
• Practice teaching experience
• Understanding of social care resources and provision available beyond statutory agencies
• Awareness of government guidance and legislative changes across broad range of NHS and Social Care issues

Skills / Experience

Essential

• Literate in IT/Computer Skills
• Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
• Demonstrates a commitment to highest professional and ethical values.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide and receive highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information.
• Demonstrate well developed motivational, negotiation, training and empathetic skills as required.
• Makes ongoing assessments of frequently complex client needs and associated risks and demonstrates knowledge and understanding of wide range of resource options within budgetary framework/ constraints.
• Negotiates and implements effective plans for support, enablement, prevention, protection and monitoring, within department/government targets Offers practical suggestions and advice on long term implications of alternative courses of action in relation to quality of service provision.
• Supports development of self and colleagues through regular reflection on effectiveness of approach and the acquisition, dissemination and application of new knowledge and skills.
• Able to offer coaching and support to students and/or unqualified staff and supervise as required.
• Communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work in a multi-agency environment with an understanding of the differing responsibilities of statutory and non statutory organizations.
• Leadership and influencing skills with the ability to lead and motivate others.
• Flexible, positive and empathetic approach.
• Develops and sustains professional working relationships with clients, carers, colleagues and external agencies based on mutual trust, respect for individual rights and cultural needs, and the promotion of equality and diversity.
• Able to communicate effectively and sensitively with people using appropriate methods of interaction and respecting confidentiality at all times.
• Produces clear, accurate and concise oral and written assessments, records and reports to facilitate decision making within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Selects appropriate medium and format for communication internally and to meet the needs of service users.
• Co-ordinates and chairs meetings as appropriate

Desirable

• Well-developed IT skills and the ability to interrogate and evaluate management information in both written and computerised format

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Shares the Trust's Beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour:
• Ensures that the organisational values of open, compassionate and empowering are demonstrated by self and others every day and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely way, either directly; or raised with the relevant Line Manager; or through the relevant processes within the Trust as appropriate.
• Ability to work on own initiative and under pressure.
• Responds calmly to unexpected and challenging problems, seeking solutions, modifying plans and arranging the provision of additional services and/or resources where appropriate.
• Deals effectively with conflict - involving others when necessary.
• Deals effectively with complex interfamilial and interagency problems and develops solutions
• Takes responsibility for own work and demonstrates willingness to learn from others and from experience.
• Resilience in dealing with emotive service user issues
• Manage own emotions whilst preparing service user reports on a daily basis.
• Able to identify own stressors and take appropriate action to prevent negative impact of this on wellbeing and seek appropriate and timely support
• Able to effectively manage their own emotions in response to the emotional distress of others.
• Demonstrates empathy, sensitivity, self awareness and acceptance of others
• Able to prioritise workload, work with competing deadlines and organise time effectively.
• Ability to network with a variety of teams, user and carer groups, and professional agencies

Desirable

• Experience of identifying, developing and managing services through a period of operational change. Planning and implementing programmes which impact across departments, services or agencies.
• Proven ability to problem solve and to achieve change whilst at the same time, balancing competing demands.
• Good analytical skills, open and creative thinking and effective problem solving in relation to service clinical and staffing issues.
• Willing to assist colleagues to ensure effective service delivery throughout the Trust
• Creative thinker Self-reliant and resilient - able to respond positively to difficult situations
• Willingness to embrace organisational change
• Experience of delivering training

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Fitness Analysis as appropriate
• Ability to travel across sites and across Trust boundaries to attend meetings, etc.

Desirable

• Current driving licence

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT)

2 Heath Close

Billericay

CM12 9NW

Employer's website

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