Social Worker

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Worker to join our Adult Community Mental Health Services Team in Watford.

The area is well served with transport links to historic Hertfordshire and its glorious countryside as well as into London and beyond. We are looking for a Social Worker who is passionate about care delivering care to adults with mental health issues.

We can offer you a competitive salary, staff benefits package, excellent career development and training that comes from working for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT.  We are on a “Good to Great” journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.

Main duties of the job

Registered with Social Work England.

Experience of working in a community based setting.  Responsible for the delivery of care to an allocated caseload of clients living in the Community experiencing, or recovering from, mental health difficulties.

Provide direct support and advice to Service Users and Carers, within the recovery framework.

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary Team, working in partnership with a range of stakeholders inside and outside of the Trust.

Providing high quality social care services to adults of all ages experiencing mental ill-health.  The core functions of the role will be to provide assessment, care planning and coordination of care from a social perspective to adults accessing the service.

Deliver recovery-focused care and support to service users and their carers that is focused on the principles of choice, control, and independence, as well as ensuring safety.

You will hold a caseload which may comprise of adults experiencing a wide range of mental health and social care needs.  You will ensure that you maintain constant reflection and development of your practice and will ensure your continuing professional development in line with the standards set out by the professional regulator, Social Work England.

If you are not already an AMHP, you will be prepared to undertake the training required to undertake the AMHP role as your career progresses. If you are already an AMHP, you will contribute to the Trust’s countywide AMHP rota.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Responsibilities

01) To be a champion of social care with a comprehensive understanding of legislation and statutory guidance.

02) To take a lead in the promotion of adult safeguarding practice and undertake safeguarding enquires and contribute to the provision of care plans that protect both adults and children from abuse.

03) To undertake comprehensive assessments and reviews, for people who may present with a high risk, or those with significant interpersonal, social, legal and/or environmental complexities, ensuring people are assessed appropriately against social care eligibility criteria as defined by The Care Act 2014.

04) To offer direct support to service users and their carers, and to colleagues, through information and advice, to ensure that those who do not meet social care eligibility are appropriately signposted and supported.

05) To ensure that appropriate health and social care services are commissioned with and on behalf of service users, including the duty to offer direct payments, and that processes are in place for service users to be charged by the local authority for the social care services they receive, if applicable.

06) To ensure that commissioned services allow choice to service users and carers and focus on people living in the community with appropriate support and access to universal services.

07) To undertake regular risk assessments and ensure that vulnerable people are kept safe.

08) To undertake carer assessments, including identifying contingency plans, and provision of support.

09) To be skilled in partnership working and identify, develop, and facilitate a wide range of recovery-focused community services, ensuring that colleagues within the locality are also aware of developments and best practice.

10) To ensure the involvement of service users and their carers to that the Trust can learn from their experiences to make improvements to service delivery.

11) To ensure accurate computer records of all work undertaken are kept up to date.

12) To undertake your own post qualifying and other appropriate training to ensure high standards of practice and continuation of your registration with Social Work England.

13) To provide both management and reflective supervision to newly qualified social workers and unregistered social care staff.

14) To support newly qualified social workers through the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), with opportunities to train as an ASYE assessor.

15) To undertake duties as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) or be willing to undertake AMHP training

16) To participate in your own regular supervision and ensure regular reflection on your own practice as both a social worker and AMHP.

17) To undertake other tasks and duties which form part of the delegated social care responsibilities accepted by the Trust on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council.

18) To adhere to Trust policies and procedures.

19) To undertake additional training as required.

20) To carry out any other duties as appropriately identified by your Line Manager.