Social Worker

Job overview

BSL Version - https://youtu.be/bOSU0SAGjyk

The National Deaf Adult Services based at Springfield Hospital are looking for an experienced social worker. The role will be at Band 7 AfC , five days a week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

It is desirable that applicants are either native BSL sign language users or have a fluency in British sign language or have a minimum of a BSL certified qualification at Level 3 in BSL together with a clear experience and understanding of deaf cultural issues and a background in working with or as part of a Team who has experience working with deaf clients and professionals.

You must have a registered qualification in social work and it would be desirable if you also had qualification or experiences in mental health social working.

Our service is a national tertiary/third tier service across the south of England . We liaise with a wide range of services within the secondary care, social and charitable sectors.

The Community Services role is collaborative and to educate, guide, signpost and support local services in the assessment and treatment options for deaf adults. We do not lead on care and the expectation is for the secondary care services to lead.

The Inpatient Services role is to assess and treat Deaf adults who present with severe mental illness which can be co-morbid with cognitive and neurological deficits, learning difficulties, emotional and behavioural dysregulation, language deprivation and associated traumas.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will:

Provide expert social care advice to colleagues within the inpatient and community services and with external services including CMHT secondary care, social services and external inpatient services

Undertake initial assessments as required as part of the referral and assessment process for the Service

To act as Duty manager on a rotational basis to manage incoming enquiries and referrals to the service including advice and signposting as required.

Represent the Teams in relevant external forums

Engage with external mental health services and social service providers to develop strong and supportive collaboration in facilitating the social care needs of the deaf client.

To hold a small caseload and to act as an identified Heal Care Professional for this caseload

To provide advice and guidance to local services around communication and the specific needs of the deaf client

To engage in professional supervision with the Head of Social work, managerial supervision with the Community team manager and facilitate supervision of more junior social workers as required by the Head of Social work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide leadership for safeguarding issues and liaising with the clients relevant local safeguarding teams as necessary.

To lead on the MCA 2005, the MHA 1983 and the Care Act 2014 as appropriate to client needs.

To be involved in providing assessment, treatment, consultation and supervision. Detailed assessments of clients and providing support and advice on complex cases.

Taking responsibility for the social care and social work elements of practice and innovations for the Deaf services.

To liaise clearly and collaboratively with the services multi-disciplinary team and with external teams and providers as required.

To join colleagues in assessment and planning meetings both for the inpatient services and community services.

To lead on the development and presentation of reports for the inpatient and community services including social circumstances reporting for Tribunal and manager Hearings, safeguarding reports as required, social work reports in liaison with client’s local responsible care team, Court reports as required, audits and evaluations of service need as necessary.

A comprehensive working understanding of the mental health act and the mental capacity act and a clear ability to contribute to assessments and reports required under these acts

To represent the clients and the Service in funding panel applications and reports.

To provide an expert consultation to other services and external agencies including mental health, social services, educational services, housing, the police, and the criminal justice system, voluntary agencies and other statutory agencies as required.