Social Worker

Job summary
We are currently seeking an experienced Social Worker, at Band 6 to work via a Bank Contract, based in Watford for our Community Adult Mental Health Team. You will be joining our Temporary Staffing Team within HPFT - Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

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-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 act as a champion of social care and safeguarding in your locality.

HPFT provides services for service users with mental health, learning disability and children's and adolescent mental health problems. Applicants should have some experience of working in a healthcare setting.HPFT has a range of healthcare settings across the County and therefore access to a car would be beneficial unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving

All applicants need to hold a valid Social Worker England Registration and can evidence this, and at least two years, or more experience, as a qualified Social Worker

Main duties of the job
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 its forms as part of your role.

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.

You will be expected to work in partnership with service users and carers, so that they can feel empowered, and services can be improved because of feedback of their experiences. Partnership working is a key component of this post, both within and outside of the Trust, and you will need to be innovative in ensuring that there is a range of appropriate services locally to support individual recovery journeys.

About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an Outstanding provider of mental health and learning disability services. Feedback from our staff about working for the Trust is very positive and, in the NHS national staff survey, we regularly see a high percentage of staff saying their role makes a difference to our service users and that they would recommend the Trust as a place to work. Our people tell us they feel supported though a great development, wellbeing and work-life balance offer and a highly compassionate, values-driven culture. We are equally proud of our staff, who live our values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional so that together we provide great care and great outcomes for our service users and carers.

Job responsibilities
If you are not already an Approved Mental Health Professional (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 Trusts countywide AMHP rota.

Be a champion of social care with a comprehensive understanding of legislation and statutory guidance.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Please see JD attached for further information and responsibilities required

Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Registration with Social Work England
• Education to degree level
• 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

• Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience
• Experience of undertaking assessments, focussed as personalisation, choice and control, and care planning
• Experience of multidisciplinary working and ability to work collaboratively

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential

• Experience of using electronic recording systems and ability to produce accurate, appropriate and timely reports

PHYSICAL SKILLS
Essential

• Ability to visit and attend meetings at a variety of locations and environments
• Car driver

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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