Forensic Inpatient Social Worker

Job summary

This role includes an RSU allowance of £1,446 per annum on top of your salary

The Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service is a forward-looking, and progressive service providing high quality care to service users on their wards, through effective in-patient multi-disciplinary team-work, with ward-based Social Workers playing a pivotal role.

The forensic wards include Medium-secure Acute wards, Medium-secure Rehab wards, Low secure Units, and a Pre-discharge Unit, located across three sites - Littlemore, Oxford; Milton Keynes; and Aylesbury, Bucks. The role is based at our Medium-secure Ward in Milton Keynes, Marlborough House, and you'll be working on other wards when required. The job location will require flexibility to hot-desk.

We are looking for a highly motivated and resourceful, qualified and registered Social Work professional who is keen to utilise their skills, and experience, to bring the social care perspective into the forensic mental health In-patient setting, supporting service users in their recovery journey. This is a 12 month fixed term contract covering maternity leave, and can be offered as a secondment opportunity.

This role is ideal for an experienced candidate who is resilient, enjoy working as part of an MDT, and sensitive to the recovery goals and needs of service users, and the team, in a busy ward environment.

Main duties of the job

Work within an inpatient ward as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT)

Contribute to pre-admission assessments, particularly focusing on identifying any social issues that are relevant to the person's recovery, and general circumstances.

Identify any potential barriers to discharge at the earliest possible stage, and work with others to help overcome these.

Provide support to the wider ward team in regard to both children's and adult safeguarding responsibilities.

Contribute to the ongoing care planning for in-patients, and work with partner organisations and the wider MDT to ensure risk is managed effectively. You'll be linking with relevant colleagues, Responsible Local Authorities and Integrated Care Boards to ensure that patients are assessed under the Care Act 2014 and that their 'Section 117' needs are determined in a timely manner, to facilitate effective discharge, in collaboration with the patient and their family.

Contribute to various statutory forums including Mental Health Tribunals and Mental Health Act Hospital Managers' Hearings.

Demonstrate the skills to maintain their Social Work professional identity and ability to assert the social perspective when working within an inpatient environment.

Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Job description
Job responsibilities

Contribute to pre-admission assessments of patients referred to the Service. This will include ascertaining Local Authority section 117 responsibility, and where applicable, identifying any family, carer, or child protection issues, as well as any other relevant agencies involved.

Following admission, to identify social care issues and ensure there is ongoing liaison with relevant agencies, so that any issues regarding property and tenancy are dealt with at an early stage.

To have a working knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Care Act and to contribute to assessments of needs under the Care Act 2014 and Section 117 Aftercare needs, working with Responsible Local Authority and ICB partners to ensure arrangements are made for effective discharge planning.

To function effectively across a variety of environments (e.g. wards of varying levels of security, service users homes, inter-agency settings, etc.) including contributing to home risk assessments.

To work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team to assert the social perspective and assess, plan, and implement patient centred programmes of care/interventions within the Care Programme.

Approach, contributing to the continuous assessment of patients to help meet their needs. This includes working in partnership with service users to assess progress against identified goals.

Maintain contact with families and carers where appropriate, to identify needs including referring for Carers Assessments when required.

Compile both non-statutory and statutory reports including CPA Reports, Social History and Needs Reports, Social Circumstances Reports for Mental Health Tribunals and Mental Health Act Hospital Managers Hearings, and present at the hearings, and meetings.

Lead on Safeguarding issues, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) referrals and to attend MAPPA meetings where required to present cases and discuss patients.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Person Specification

Qualifications - Academic/Skills/Professional
Essential

Professional Qualification (Degree or equivalent) in Social Work
Registration with Social Work England
Evidence of Continuing Professional development

Desirable

Post-graduate education specifically relating to client group
AMHP, BIA Qualification, or PEPS

Knowledge Requirements
Essential

To have working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, and the Mental Capacity Act
To have knowledge of social factors affecting mental health service users.
To have good English verbal and written communication skills
To be IT literate.

Desirable

To have awareness of the Criminal Justice System
To have awareness of national and local policy relating to mental healthcare

Experience
Essential

To have relevant experience which should include working with adults with mental health or learning difficulties.
To have experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
To understand and have experience of Risk Assessment and Risk Management
Experience of statutory, and non-statutory report-writing
To have experience of safeguarding vulnerable adults or children
Experience of assessing care needs

Desirable

To have experience of working with the Criminal Justice System
To have experience of attending Mental Health Tribunals and/or MHA Managers' Hearings
To have experience of working in a healthcare, inpatient setting.

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.