Navigator: Specialist Social Worker, IBPS

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a care Navigator to join our Infected Blood Psychological Service (IBPS) at Guy’s and St Thomas’s (GSTT); one of 16 services in England supporting people and families across the lifespan impacted by the infected blood scandal.

This Navigator role involves providing psychosocial assessment and follow up care to people accessing the service. It emphasises working creatively and flexibly to engage with wider infected blood communities, including assertive outreach across South London, peer support programme development, and building relationships across agencies.

This role is ideal for an experienced, autonomous social worker, passionate about understanding community needs and developing services to better meet these. We are seeking a trauma informed, person-centred professional who brings initiative to service development.

Commitment to building safe, effective relationships within contexts of injustice, stigma and medical trauma is essential, alongside robust skills in safeguarding, rights-based approaches, signposting, advocacy and strengths-based practice.

You will appreciate working within a psychological framework with dedicated psychologists in the service and alongside Navigators across London and England. You will receive regular professional supervision from a Senior Social Worker,  line management and clinical supervision from the Lead Psychologist.

We welcome applications from social workers registered with Social Work England.

Main duties of the job

The GSTT IBPS provides multidisciplinary care for those infected and affected by contaminated blood products by: a) conducting outreach, psychosocial assessment and support, as well as peer support development, led by the social worker (post holder); and b) providing psychological therapies by the psychologists. It is closely linked to the wider haematology department, while maintaining a distinct identity as part of the National IBPS.

The successful candidate will deliver a specialist and outreach social work role, navigating through the complex health and social care systems, and voluntary community services, while addressing the psycho-social, emotional and practical challenges faced by people and their families impacted by infected blood.

An advanced knowledge and skill in the application of a range of social work interventions to promote independence, choice, control, and wellbeing is a prerequisite. Also embedded in the forefront of the role is the use of rights and strength-based approaches to care and support delivered to this service user group.

No previous experience of working with this service user group is necessary although some knowledge of the infected blood scandal, inquiry and experiences of those impacted would be an advantage. Working from a trauma informed, psychological perspective is emphasised.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

Inquiries are very welcome.