Job summary
You will work within the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust's Excellence Model of Social Work and to promote its practice and values and to support the development of the highest quality social work informed by our four principles:
- We should not intervene unless really necessary
- People probably know best what they need
- People are not defined by their difficulties
- People have a right to live without fear or harm
Furthermore, to work with and evidence competencies within the social care capabilities framework which include:
- Professionalism, CPD, reflection and leadership to others
- Values, diversity and challenging injustice
- Knowledge
- Interventions, skills and effective integrated working
- Safeguarding and DoLs
Main duties of the job
- To ensure that support/care packages promote independence and choice and offer the most cost-effective and beneficial outcomes, delivered and monitored
- To provide professional supervision and appraisals to an agreed number of social work staff
- To ensure own and staff compliance with legal responsibilities and policy
- Assessments are undertaken within a multi-disciplinary setting, and reflect the perspective of the individual, their carer, their lives and aspirations; to encourage and support staff to work with a strengths-based approach as directed by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
- To jointly with the Social Work Lead in providing leadership and management to a multi-disciplinary team of practitioners
- To be responsible for supporting and guiding practitioner in respect of risk assessment and risk management
- Guide and support staff in respect of highly complex cases offering a shared case management approach for such complex cases.
- To maintain a small caseload of the complex cases
- To provide professional supervision to an agreed number of social work staff
- To undertake Social Work lead responsibilities when he/she is absent: including the authority to make equivalent budgetary decisions if necessary, in consultation with other lead or zone manager
- Chairing meetings: e.g. resource panel, best interest, risk assessment, multidisciplinary meetings and S42 safeguarding/review meetings
About us
Why Work With Us
You will be working in the Adult Mental Health Social Care Team and working jointly with the Social Work Lead, you will be a core member of the management team, providing leadership to the multi-disciplinary U65 Mental Health Social Care team. Leading on effective assessment and discharge planning with working age adults in the area of Torbay and for Torbay residents in out of area hospitals in the region.
To provide leadership to the team in maintaining the highest standards in strength based holistic social care assessments, in partnership with service users, families and carers, prepare care plans, commission services to ensure the most beneficial and cost-effective care packages are established, delivered, monitored and reviewed, and comply with all statutory requirements for The Devon Partnership trust policies and guidelines.
To have clear responsibilities for the safeguarding of adults and children and for operating in a manner consistent with Human Rights legislation
To ensure the practitioners maintain a high standard of legal literacy and are compliant with and practice utilising social care legislation including Care Act 2014, Capacity Act 2005 , Mental Health Act 1983.
A relatively young team that's has grown in size over the last 18 months, we are supportive team who are passionate about mental health. We are a motivated and caring team to both Service Users and colleagues. The team is flexible and promote a healthy work/home life balance.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Equality, Diversity and Rights
- To ensure own and staff compliance with legal responsibilities and policy guidance on equality and diversity matters, and human rights, and promote anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice as good practice within the team
Anticipated Outcomes of Post
- Assessments are undertaken within a multi- disciplinary setting, and reflect the perspective of the individual and their carer, and lead to care plans which promote maximum independence and promote outcomes which are agreed with the individual who is being assessed
- Eligibility for services is determined as per FACS (Fair Access to Care Services) guidance
- Assessment, Care planning, and the subsequent commissioning of services are undertaken in a timely way to ensure the right care is available in the most suitable environment
- Improved levels of good practice and increased use of evidence-based practice in the Team
Dimensions
- To be responsible for managing and have oversight of the teams complex caseloads and for providing professional consultancy to social care staff and other professionals in the multi-disciplinary team
Responsibility for staff
- To provide formal professional supervision to an agreed number of social work staff and to complete the relevant appraisal process with them, adhering to the relevant policy
- To support staff in their ongoing career development; encouraging reflective practice, study and training
- Working with the Team Lead taking an active role in the recruitment and induction of new team members.
- To lead on modelling best practice and ensure practitioners skills and experience is relevant, current and of the highest standard.
- Alongside the Social work Lead support the Team to maintain high standards of legal literacy ,
- To take an active role in managing sickness within the team
Responsibility to Service Users/Patients and Carers
- To ensure that service users are placed at the heart of the Service, treated courteously and fairly, and consulted on all aspects of their service provision
Responsibility for Safeguarding Adults (SGA)
- To ensure that Safeguarding Adults is at the centre of own practice and undertake SGA training including the advanced level, investigators course, management roles and responsibilities course and chairing skills course To ensure a high level of understanding about all relevant Safeguarding Policies, practices and procedures throughout the team. To be conversant with Sections 42-46 of The Care Act 2014
- To undertake; investigations, case manage and joint work complex SGA cases
- To be able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge in all areas of the 2005 Mental Capacity Act and to be able to lead on all aspects of the Act. To work closely with the Safeguarding Adults Team
- To have an in-depth knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and to ensure staff are sufficiently skilled in the Act to deliver the service
- To develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge in all areas of the Safeguarding and service development needs in light of ongoing changes in relevant legislation
- Working within the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trusts Safeguarding Adults policy; co-ordinating residential and nursing home investigations; this will include evaluating and managing complex information, liaison with a number of other agencies, managing a complex process of multiple assessments, preserving potential evidence, ensuring Service Users are safe and treated with dignity and respect throughout the process. Maintaining confidentiality for all Service Users and cares involved
- Communicating with Senior Management
Responsibility for Resources
- To commission Health and Social Care Services to meet individual assessed needs in care plans giving consideration to signposting and engaging with the voluntary sector as appropriate in line with the Care Act 2014
Responsibility for Administration
- To maintain accurate and up to date case records as appropriate
- To read and approve minutes in a timely manner
- To approve annual leave, study leave and ensure TOIL is worked and taken back appropriately
- To ensure that all staff attend and are up-to-date for all mandatory training
- To plan and prioritise own work and any caseload, and assist social work staff within the team in this task
- To work closely with social work lead to ensure all information recording and data collection systems are adhered to including Trust electronic records systems.
- Work closely with Social Work Lead to manage complaints
Responsibility for Professional Practice
- To manage a small caseload if capacity allows and to joint-work complex cases with other social care staff; to ensure service users receive support that empowers and promotes independence and that care plans are monitored and reviewed in a timely and appropriate manner
- The post holder will be expected to make decisions, set own and team priorities, exercise professional judgement and act autonomously within policies and local and national procedures
- The post holder will be expected to maintain their theoretical knowledge base and is aware of developments in social care, evidence-based working and all relevant changes in legislation
- To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities; maintaining portfolios which reflect personal development, and comply with the organisations Social Care Capabilities Framework and likewise evidence for Social Work England registration. The importance of this is recognised through the use of the half day per month study to facilitate this
- To be experienced and be able to support the team in all areas of Court work
- The post holder will have, or aspire to complete Social Work Post
- Qualification modules
Organisational Skills
- To plan and prioritise own work and caseload, and alongside Social Work Lead support Social Work staff within the team in this task
Strategic and Operational Development Responsibilities
- To contribute to the production of team plans and to advise social work lead of practice-based developments within the Team
- To contribute to the development and implementation of systems, such as Evidence-based Practice and utilising research data
- To contribute to service development; to promote new ways of working particularly with regards community based social work. To attend working groups and representing social work on inter-agency and multi-disciplinary groups as required
- To work as part of a team exchanging professional knowledge, experience, mutual support and service development
- To contribute to professional development in Social Work through Forums and working groups
Communication and Working Relationships
Communication with service users and carers
External:
- Key external working relationships will be with Health professionals, private domiciliary and residential care providers Internal:
- Key internal working relationships are multi-disciplinary colleagues in the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) Front Door and Complex Care Team, Enabling, Supported Living, Residential Care providers, Psychiatric and General Hospital Discharge Teams, other specialist teams (e.g. Alcohol and Drug Services, Eating Disorder Service, Sensory Loss, ), and the Emergency Duty Service
Job description
Job responsibilities
Equality, Diversity and Rights
- To ensure own and staff compliance with legal responsibilities and policy guidance on equality and diversity matters, and human rights, and promote anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice as good practice within the team
Anticipated Outcomes of Post
- Assessments are undertaken within a multi- disciplinary setting, and reflect the perspective of the individual and their carer, and lead to care plans which promote maximum independence and promote outcomes which are agreed with the individual who is being assessed
- Eligibility for services is determined as per FACS (Fair Access to Care Services) guidance
- Assessment, Care planning, and the subsequent commissioning of services are undertaken in a timely way to ensure the right care is available in the most suitable environment
- Improved levels of good practice and increased use of evidence-based practice in the Team
Dimensions
- To be responsible for managing and have oversight of the teams complex caseloads and for providing professional consultancy to social care staff and other professionals in the multi-disciplinary team
Responsibility for staff
- To provide formal professional supervision to an agreed number of social work staff and to complete the relevant appraisal process with them, adhering to the relevant policy
- To support staff in their ongoing career development; encouraging reflective practice, study and training
- Working with the Team Lead taking an active role in the recruitment and induction of new team members.
- To lead on modelling best practice and ensure practitioners skills and experience is relevant, current and of the highest standard.
- Alongside the Social work Lead support the Team to maintain high standards of legal literacy ,
- To take an active role in managing sickness within the team
Responsibility to Service Users/Patients and Carers
- To ensure that service users are placed at the heart of the Service, treated courteously and fairly, and consulted on all aspects of their service provision
Responsibility for Safeguarding Adults (SGA)
- To ensure that Safeguarding Adults is at the centre of own practice and undertake SGA training including the advanced level, investigators course, management roles and responsibilities course and chairing skills course To ensure a high level of understanding about all relevant Safeguarding Policies, practices and procedures throughout the team. To be conversant with Sections 42-46 of The Care Act 2014
- To undertake; investigations, case manage and joint work complex SGA cases
- To be able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge in all areas of the 2005 Mental Capacity Act and to be able to lead on all aspects of the Act. To work closely with the Safeguarding Adults Team
- To have an in-depth knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and to ensure staff are sufficiently skilled in the Act to deliver the service
- To develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge in all areas of the Safeguarding and service development needs in light of ongoing changes in relevant legislation
- Working within the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trusts Safeguarding Adults policy; co-ordinating residential and nursing home investigations; this will include evaluating and managing complex information, liaison with a number of other agencies, managing a complex process of multiple assessments, preserving potential evidence, ensuring Service Users are safe and treated with dignity and respect throughout the process. Maintaining confidentiality for all Service Users and cares involved
- Communicating with Senior Management
Responsibility for Resources
- To commission Health and Social Care Services to meet individual assessed needs in care plans giving consideration to signposting and engaging with the voluntary sector as appropriate in line with the Care Act 2014
Responsibility for Administration
- To maintain accurate and up to date case records as appropriate
- To read and approve minutes in a timely manner
- To approve annual leave, study leave and ensure TOIL is worked and taken back appropriately
- To ensure that all staff attend and are up-to-date for all mandatory training
- To plan and prioritise own work and any caseload, and assist social work staff within the team in this task
- To work closely with social work lead to ensure all information recording and data collection systems are adhered to including Trust electronic records systems.
- Work closely with Social Work Lead to manage complaints
Responsibility for Professional Practice
- To manage a small caseload if capacity allows and to joint-work complex cases with other social care staff; to ensure service users receive support that empowers and promotes independence and that care plans are monitored and reviewed in a timely and appropriate manner
- The post holder will be expected to make decisions, set own and team priorities, exercise professional judgement and act autonomously within policies and local and national procedures
- The post holder will be expected to maintain their theoretical knowledge base and is aware of developments in social care, evidence-based working and all relevant changes in legislation
- To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities; maintaining portfolios which reflect personal development, and comply with the organisations Social Care Capabilities Framework and likewise evidence for Social Work England registration. The importance of this is recognised through the use of the half day per month study to facilitate this
- To be experienced and be able to support the team in all areas of Court work
- The post holder will have, or aspire to complete Social Work Post
- Qualification modules
Organisational Skills
- To plan and prioritise own work and caseload, and alongside Social Work Lead support Social Work staff within the team in this task
Strategic and Operational Development Responsibilities
- To contribute to the production of team plans and to advise social work lead of practice-based developments within the Team
- To contribute to the development and implementation of systems, such as Evidence-based Practice and utilising research data
- To contribute to service development; to promote new ways of working particularly with regards community based social work. To attend working groups and representing social work on inter-agency and multi-disciplinary groups as required
- To work as part of a team exchanging professional knowledge, experience, mutual support and service development
- To contribute to professional development in Social Work through Forums and working groups
Communication and Working Relationships
Communication with service users and carers
External:
- Key external working relationships will be with Health professionals, private domiciliary and residential care providers Internal:
- Key internal working relationships are multi-disciplinary colleagues in the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) Front Door and Complex Care Team, Enabling, Supported Living, Residential Care providers, Psychiatric and General Hospital Discharge Teams, other specialist teams (e.g. Alcohol and Drug Services, Eating Disorder Service, Sensory Loss, ), and the Emergency Duty Service
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- Relevant professional Social Work qualification - Degree/Diploma in Social Work, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or Certificate in Social Services
- PQ1 and commitment to post qualification training
- Professional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma in social care, supplemented by further specialist knowledge, for example in needs of a specific client group, experience to masters equivalent level
Desirable
- AMHP
- BIA
- Management/Leadership qualification
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience in a leadership/senior position
- Experience of Court Work i.e. Court Of Protection
- Experience of working with complex mental health clients
- Ability to present an excellent role model for good practice for social care staff within the multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to make decisions in accordance with the statutory requirements of the post
- Working knowledge of Community Care Act and Fair Access to Care eligibility criteria and adult social care "best practice"
- Adult Protection Investigators training
- Commitment to the concepts of a needs-led service, quality standards and service user choice within the context of Best Value
- Working in the legislative framework which includes knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and The Care Act 2014
Desirable
- Ability to undertake risk assessments within all aspects of day to day work.
- Ability to act as a consultant on practice-based issues for other health and social care practitioners processes
- Knowledge of Continuing NHS Care criteria/ Registered Nursing Care (RNCC) Contribution
- Experience of Chairing Safeguarding investigation (S42) and Reviews
- Experience of drawing up and managing Risk enablement plans
Specific Skills
Essential
- High level Care Management experience
- Adult Protection Investigator's training and experience
Requirement due to work environment/conditions
Essential
- Current registration with the General Social Care Council
- Full DBS disclosure
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- Relevant professional Social Work qualification - Degree/Diploma in Social Work, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or Certificate in Social Services
- PQ1 and commitment to post qualification training
- Professional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma in social care, supplemented by further specialist knowledge, for example in needs of a specific client group, experience to masters equivalent level
Desirable
- AMHP
- BIA
- Management/Leadership qualification
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience in a leadership/senior position
- Experience of Court Work i.e. Court Of Protection
- Experience of working with complex mental health clients
- Ability to present an excellent role model for good practice for social care staff within the multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to make decisions in accordance with the statutory requirements of the post
- Working knowledge of Community Care Act and Fair Access to Care eligibility criteria and adult social care "best practice"
- Adult Protection Investigators training
- Commitment to the concepts of a needs-led service, quality standards and service user choice within the context of Best Value
- Working in the legislative framework which includes knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and The Care Act 2014
Desirable
- Ability to undertake risk assessments within all aspects of day to day work.
- Ability to act as a consultant on practice-based issues for other health and social care practitioners processes
- Knowledge of Continuing NHS Care criteria/ Registered Nursing Care (RNCC) Contribution
- Experience of Chairing Safeguarding investigation (S42) and Reviews
- Experience of drawing up and managing Risk enablement plans
Specific Skills
Essential
- High level Care Management experience
- Adult Protection Investigator's training and experience
Requirement due to work environment/conditions
Essential
- Current registration with the General Social Care Council
- Full DBS disclosure
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).
