Social Worker

Job summary
Be at the heart of our community! We have an exciting opportunity for a qualified Band 6 Social Worker to join us in delivering community mental health care within the Dacorum area of Hertfordshire - Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring and surrounding villages. 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 would welcome applications from London based Social Workers looking to move to this idyllic part of the county. You MUST BE a registered with Social Work England and you must have a full UK driving licence and access to a car in order to apply for this role. Previous applicants need not apply. This is a 12 month Fixed Term Contract For an informal chat, please contact Service Line lead Helen Dudeney View phone number on meeveem.com

Main duties of the job
As a Social Worker, you will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, 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. You will delivery recovery-focusedcare 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 act as a champion of social care and safeguarding in your locality.You will actively address adversity and will support adults at risk of social inclusion and assist adults accessing support to deal with a range of adverse circumstances. You will actively champion equality and diversity and be expected to challenge discrimination in all it's forms as part of your role.

About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission. Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities
To be a champion of social care with a comprehensive understanding of legislation and statutory guidance. 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.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.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.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.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.To undertake regular risk assessments and ensure that vulnerable people are kept safe.To undertake carer assessments, including identifying contingency plans, and provision of support. For full details of the role and responsibilities for this vacancy please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification documents attached. We welcome an informal chat or visit to our lovely team!

Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Essential

• An appropriate professional social work qualification
• Education to degree level
• Registration with Social Work England
• Training in principles and application of outcomes focussed assessments and personalisation
• Relevant post-qualifying training for social workers
• Training and experience in Safeguarding

Desirable

• Approved Mental Health Professional/Best Interests Assessment Training

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Strong post qualification experience
• Knowledge of legislation, theory and policy in relation to relevant care group
• Experience of undertaking assessments, focussed as personalisation, choice and control, and care planning
• Understanding and experience of personal budgets and direct payments
• Experience of multidisciplinary working and ability to work collaboratively
• Experience of partnership working with service users and carers, demonstrating dignity and respect

Desirable

• Experience of work as Approved Mental Health Professional and/or Best Interests Assessor

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential

• Excellent ability to communication with a wide range of stakeholders including service users and carers, other professional colleagues, members of other organisations and local communities, verbally and in writing
• Ability to manage highly sensitive information
• Experience of using electronic recording systems and ability to produce accurate, appropriate and timely reports

ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Essential

• Ability to analyse service user and carer information
• Experience of undertaking small scale audits and surveys

PHYSICAL SKILLS
Essential

• Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
• Ability to visit and attend meetings at a variety of locations and environments

Additional Information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).