Deputy Head of Social Work

Job overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Deputy Head of Social Work to join our team and provide visible, professional leadership to Social Workers across the South-West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG). This role plays a pivotal part in championing high-quality social work practice, supporting professional development, and shaping the future of social work within the Trust.

As a successful applicant you will have experience in working in mental health setting across health and social care system, as well as a strong legal literacy in health, social care and mental health legislation.  Joining the senior management team, you will be the senior operational leader for Social Work raising professional profile, supporting further development of the professional pathway and driving the strength-based approach to service delivery across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

Deputy Head of Social Work will take operational leadership for promoting social work-based approaches that contribute to reducing health inequalities and improving service quality. You will provide expert guidance and support to operational managers, ensuring strong partnerships and effective collaboration with the five local authorities we work alongside.

Key responsibilities include overseeing robust systems for professional supervision, reflective practice, and professional appraisal. The role also involves contributing to professional forums, the annual Social Work Conference, and coordinating learning and development opportunities. You will lead the development of a clear career pathway for Social Workers in partnership with educational providers, Skills for Care, and the Trust’s preceptorship programme, as well as support apprenticeship and newly qualified programmes (MH AYSE, Practice Educator).

The Deputy Head will provide expert advice in areas such as Mental Health Law, Safeguarding, and Social Care legislation, contributing to Trust-wide audits, research, and compliance initiatives including upcoming legal reforms. You will also support the leadership of Safeguarding, participate in governance groups, and deputise for the Head of Social Work when required. This is an excellent opportunity for a forward-thinking Social Work leader to make a lasting impact across integrated health and social care services system

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

• To provide visible professional leadership to Social Workers across the Trust.
• To support the provision of high-quality social work and social care leadership across the SWLSTG Trust.
• To support strengthening of the professional identity for Social Workers within the Trust, ensuring that the social work profession feels inspired in promoting social work-based approaches to provision of best quality services across the service lines that support reducing health inequalities.
• To provide professional advice and support to operational managers, including upon the maintenance of effective interfaces between the Trust and the five local authorities.

• To developed enhanced systems, and where appropriate the provision, of robust professional supervision, reflective practice, contribute to professional appraisal plus professional forums & annual Social Work Conference, alongside learning and development opportunities for social workers in the Trust.
• To provide professional leadership in collaboration with Education providers, Skills for Care and Trust professional preceptorship in developing a robust career pathway for the social work profession within the Trust.
• To lead on maintaining pathways for Social Work apprenticeship, MH AYSE programme and Practice Educator programme with associate Education providers.
• To contribute to Trust audit and research in key areas for social care and social work.
• To provide professional expertise, advice and training in specialist areas including Mental Health Law, Safeguarding and Social Care legislation.
• To have an instrumental leadership role in response to Trust required developments for compliance around changes in MH Law, such as MHA reform.
• To support Trust MCA professionals for operational leadership reporting to Head of Social Work as overall strategic Lead.
• To actively contribute to the leadership of Safeguarding within the Trust, attending sub-groups to Boards and matters relating to Prevent as required.
• To collaborate with social work leads within the Trust and local authorities to ensure that social work services are appropriately developed, governed and performance managed across the service lines.
• Deputise to the Head of Social Work as required.