Forensic Social Worker

Job summary

As a Forensic Social Worker, you'll play a key role in shaping safe, ethical and compassionate care for individuals in secure mental health services. Your insight will provide much needed holistic perspectives in decision making, support recovery, and help ensure that the voices of patients, families and victims are heard at every stage.

You'll bring strong analytical skills, emotional resilience and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-oppressive practice. In return, you'll work within a highly skilled multidisciplinary team where your professional judgment is valued and your perspective is essential.

You will navigate complex situations, apply social work theory in depth, and contribute meaningfully to risk understanding and public protection.

If you're looking for a role with professional challenge, genuine impact, and the chance to develop specialist expertise in a nationally significant setting, this is the place to grow your career.

Main duties of the job

-Deliver specialist forensic social work and high-quality assessments for patients in secure care
-Prepare clear, concise reports for legal, clinical and public protection processes
-Advise the multidisciplinary team on mental health legislation, rights and safeguarding
-Assess risk and need using trauma-informed, holistic and anti-oppressive practice
-Work directly with patients, families and victims to support engagement, safety and recovery
-Lead safeguarding activity and work with external agencies such as local authorities and MAPPA
-Contribute to MDT discussions, service improvement, governance and accurate record-keeping
-Support team duties including rota tasks, student supervision and AMHP work (if applicable).

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential
-Degree in Social Work or DipSW or CQSW
-Social Work England registration
-Post-qualifying training (with again formally or through evidenced on-the-job training) in relevant areas of social work and/or mental health
-Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

Desirable
-AMHP qualification
-Qualifications relating to the Mental Capacity Act, e.g. Best Interest Assessor
-Relevant training in group work, family therapy, substance misuse interventions, or offence work

Experience

Essential
-Experience of working with individuals with mental health problems
-Experience of multidisciplinary team working, and promoting a social work/social care perspective
-Experience of presenting reports in formal setting, e.g. First Tier Tribunals Mental Health and Associate -Hospital Managers Hearings
-Experience in risk assessment and risk management
-Experience in collaborative care planning
-Experience in working with families
-Experience of child and adult Safeguarding with mental health patients and their families
-Experience in supporting and training others on Social Work or AMHP placements

Desirable
-Experience of working in an inpatient forensic mental health setting
-Experience of working with offenders
-Experience of working with adults with substance misuse or dual diagnosis
-Experience of working with adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Knowledge

Essential
-Knowledge of particular aspects of the Mental Health Act and its associated Code of Practice, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Human Rights Act and criminal justice legislation relevant to Forensic Mental Health Social Work
-Detailed knowledge of identifying Responsible Local Authorities, Section 117 MHA, MAPPA, Victim Liaison, Carers' Rights and child and adult Safeguarding
-Written and verbal communication skills to engage with patients, carers and professionals of various levels of seniority across health and social care
-Knowledge of how to work effectively with professional networks to foster collaborative approaches and achieve results

Desirable
-Specialist knowledge in engaging with people with personality disorder and forensic histories
-Group facilitation skills

Personal Qualities

Essential
-Interpersonal skills to manage highly complex emotional situations
-Analytic and judgement skills, dealing with highly complex situations where required to express professional social work opinions
-Ability to work with considerable professional autonomy as a solo social worker in a multidisciplinary team
-Planning and organisational skills to manage a caseload and meet deadlines
-Ability to undertake all statutory and mandatory training, including Breakaway (subject to Occupational Health clearance)