Social Worker

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and hard-working Band 6 social worker to work with the multi-disciplinary team on Hume ward.
Hume ward is a 15 bed Male Low Secure Unit ward, currently located on the Springfield Hospital site, part of Southwest London and St Georges NHS Trust Forensic service, Shaftesbury Clinic. We are part of the South London Mental Health Partnership (with SLAM and Oxleas) and Quality Network for Forensic Mental Health Services sharing learning, expertise and innovation and improve the quality of care and treatment of service users and the development of staff.
Hume ward is a Forensic Inpatient Low secure ward which provides short- and long-term hospital admissions to male patients suffering from serious mental health problems such as psychotic illness, bipolar affective disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Admissions are generally agreed with the referring team/court/Ministry of Justice.
Our Multidisciplinary team are responsible for assessing, managing and reducing the risk to patients and the community whilst in our care. The team comprises of Mental Health Nurses, Forensic Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Dance and Movement Therapists, Social Worker, Discharge Co Ordinator, Recovery Workers and administrative staff. The team works in collaboration with the referring team to help the patient move back to an appropriate community setting as soon as possible., Social worker post are only open to staff with a social workers registration, obtained as a result of completing a qualification recognised by British Social Worker Association (BASWA).
The post holder will provide social work service to the multidisciplinary team working with forensic inpatients, undertake comprehensive assessments, compiling detailed social histories, leading on Safeguarding Adults and Children; and will carry out statutory responsibilities of reporting upon patient's social circumstance in relation to mental health tribunals and hospital managers hearings. The post holder will contribute with social work skills, perspective and statutory functions to the assessment and treatment of adult patients in the forensic service, ensure patients have access to Local authority services and resources to which they are entitled and to ensure social care duties are fully discharged either by the Trust or directly by relevant Local Authorities. The post holder will join with multidisciplinary colleagues in the assessment, consultation and treatment, and discharges of clients. We are an innovative service and are constantly striving to improve
the quality of the service we provide. You will therefore be expected to engage in ongoing professional development, appraisals and supported to maintain an AMHP warrant and attend appropriate training., To play a lead role in facilitating understanding, and clear communication between all relevant parties concerned with safeguarding adults and children procedures as they apply in the ward setting. In conjunction with the responsible clinician and multidisciplinary team, to take responsibility for liaison and ensure that adult and child protection concerns are reported in accordance with the Care Act & any additional Social Services Department and Department of Health guidelines.
To communicate complex and sensitive information to clients and their carers requiring empathy, negotiation and persuasion skills.
To be responsible for ensuring that issues relating to carers, families and social networks of patients are properly addressed in care planning for inpatients and during transitions e.g. during moves to lower security environments.
To be responsible for carrying out social work assessments in conjunction with local authority in relation to assessments of need, discharge planning, referring to local host area funding panels and responsibilities with regards to s117 of the Mental Health Act.
To prepare comprehensive social histories on all new admissions in order to enhance the MDTs knowledge and understanding of the patient and see them in their social context.
To be responsible for planning and organising complex activities, in association with other members of the multidisciplinary team, which include participating in therapy groups and social activities for patients and their carers/families.
To plan ahead and proactively plan for a range of areas, such as planning for patient's discharge, planning and preparing comprehensive reports such as social history reports, tribunal and hospital managers reports, CPA and s117 meetings. ]
To contribute to assessment procedures and to assist other agencies in the performance of their statutory duties as appropriate, e.g. under the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014, Mental Health Act 1983, Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act and the Criminal Justice Acts (various). To provide assessment and social reports as required in these instances.
To provide advice and information on the above to colleagues within the multidisciplinary team.
To take responsibility for ensuring that child care and safeguarding practices and procedures are adhered to with respect to all in-patients, day and out-patients with responsibilities for approving child visits to the service.
To promote anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice and to work towards providing an equal opportunities service in line with South West London and St George's and/or Social Services policies.
To represent the views of the multidisciplinary team at external meetings where appropriate.
To participate actively in multidisciplinary team meetings and to contribute to the development of team identity
To contribute to and develop policies and procedures as appropriate.
To undertake reasonably flexible hours and working patterns to accommodate increased client access.
At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.
As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:
+ BME (Evolve) Staff Network
+ Christian Staff Network
+ DiverseAbility
+ Deaf Staff Network
+ Mental Health Staff Forum
+ Women's Staff Network
+ LGBTQIA+
We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.
Please note:
+ That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
+ That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3^rd party e-recruitment system
+ That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
+ That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
+ That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
+ That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
+ That we are a smoke-free Trust

NHS AfC: Band 6
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.
We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' however we aim to be 'outstanding'.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".
When you join us, you'll be part of something special - an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.
As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working., We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.