Forensic Social Worker

Main duties of the job

We are looking for applicants for a Forensic Social Worker/ Social Supervisor committed to working collaboratively with individuals and providers in the community to find positive and safe ways of working with people who use these services. In particular: -

You will work as part of the ground-breaking new team that will improve the lives of forensic mental health service users and their carers. This is a rare chance to be part of shaping a new service, providing opportunities to develop your skills and your career. The applicant must have a qualification in social work and be registered with Social Work England.

At WLNHST we don't just accept difference we actively celebrate it and support it for the benefit of our staff, our patients and our community. We are proud to be part of an equal opportunity work place.

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK.

Our 3,982 staff care for people in hospital and in the community, helping them to recover and go on to lead full and productive lives. We aim to be the best organisation of our kind in the country.

We provide care and treatment for more than 800,000 people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, delivering services in the community (at home, in GP surgeries and care homes), hospital, specialist clinics and forensic (secure) units.

We're rated good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Together, we're committed to promoting hope and wellbeing, working with patients, service users, carers, families and partners across the communities we serve.

We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the detailed job description and main responsibilities please refer to the file attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

oQualification in Social Work with current Social Work England Registration.

Desirable

oPost Qualifying training and development

EXPERIENCE

Essential

oThe applicant must have a minimum of two years post graduate Social Work experience.
oThe applicant must have two years post qualification experience in a mental health setting.
oThe applicant must have experience of autonomous working as a social worker

Desirable

oExperience of community forensic working practises

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Essential

oDemonstrate an ability to undertake assessments of risk using specific risk assessment tools.
oDemonstrate an ability to formulate implement and evaluate programmes of care for those individuals in the Community Forensic Service and those being referred.
oDemonstrate an ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with clients who have a range of disorders that will include personality disorder dual diagnosis.
oDemonstrate knowledge of actuarial and clinical risk assessment and how this might be applied to the management of clients.
oDemonstrate knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act and its application to Mentally Disordered Offenders.
oDemonstrate knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and its implication for the management of Forensic clients.
oDemonstrate an ability to teach.
oDemonstrate an ability to work with a range of organisations including Courts, Police and Probation, ministry of Justice.
oDemonstrate good communication skills, especially listening, empathy, facilitation, persuasion, motivation, negotiation, education, and reassurance.
oDemonstrate ability to lead projects and development of services
oDemonstrate the ability to understand the role of the Community Forensic Service.
oDemonstrate ability for cross cultural working ensuring whatever the cultural background of clients they are treated holistically.
oDemonstrate an ability to manage stress and competing demands prioritising appropriately.
oDemonstrate skills associated with good documentation.
oAn ability to work as part of a team.
oAbility to work in an autonomous manner.

Desirable

oDemonstrate ability to supervise staff
oDemonstrate ability to lead on projects and audits.
oDemonstrate a good understanding of CPA and its application.
oDemonstrate an ability to communicate complex issues to users and carers