Job summary
Please note that following the 2024/2025 Pay award the new salary range for this post is £37,338 - £44,962
We are looking for a Senior Social Worker to join the Community Forensic Team based at Easby House, Langdon Hospital in Dawlish.
This is an exciting opportunity to join us at one of the Country's leading providers of Forensic Community Mental Health Services.
The Community Forensic Team have now been shortlisted twice for the Nursing Times awards in 2020 for team of the year and in 2021 for Community Mental Health Team. We are also winners with National Positive Practice in Mental Health awards 2021 winning innovation in community mental health services award and being highly commended for Covid team of the year.
The overarching aim of the Community Forensic Team is to deliver a model of integrated care and support across all elements of a service users pathway. We have a specific focus on reducing the length of stay for those within secure inpatient services and lowering the re-admission rate for those who have been discharged into the community.
The role is dynamic and challenging, working for Devon Partnership NHS Trust, you will make a difference to peoples lives from the moment you start.
We expect all our staff to embrace this way of working, recognising the equal value of everyone involved in service design and delivery.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will contribute to the team's engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including staff, service users, their carers and other statutory and voluntary sector agencies.
You will have experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team, as you will be a core member of discussions and decisions.
The post holder will provide statutory Adult Social Care, Care Management functions (assessment, care planning and reviewing).
Liaisons with a wide range of statutory and non-statutory agencies is central to this role.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSC, BA, MA, in Social Work DIPSW or CQSW.
- Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
- Registration with Social Work England.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- An understanding of the Care Act 2014 and Mental Health Act 1989 (as amended 2007)/ Mental Health Capacity Act 2005 requirements.
- An understanding of the CPA process.
- Awareness of community structures and social care management responsibilities.
- Understanding of recovery principles in Mental Health and how these align with strengths based Social Work Practice.
- Knowledge and understanding of application of an evidence-base in practice.
Experience
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) or a minimum of two years post registration experience.
- Consolidation of learning for specialist practice (either Adult Safeguarding or Mental Health) or equivalent.
- Working within an inpatient/community mental health or social care setting, in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Commitment to CPD and developing own potential
- Substantial experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload of clients with a range of complex mental health problems.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSC, BA, MA, in Social Work DIPSW or CQSW.
- Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff.
- Registration with Social Work England.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- An understanding of the Care Act 2014 and Mental Health Act 1989 (as amended 2007)/ Mental Health Capacity Act 2005 requirements.
- An understanding of the CPA process.
- Awareness of community structures and social care management responsibilities.
- Understanding of recovery principles in Mental Health and how these align with strengths based Social Work Practice.
- Knowledge and understanding of application of an evidence-base in practice.
Experience
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) or a minimum of two years post registration experience.
- Consolidation of learning for specialist practice (either Adult Safeguarding or Mental Health) or equivalent.
- Working within an inpatient/community mental health or social care setting, in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Commitment to CPD and developing own potential
- Substantial experience of managing an extensive and complex caseload of clients with a range of complex mental health problems.
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).
