Forensic Social Worker

Whilst it is desirable for candidates to have experience working within forensic and mental health settings, applications will be equally considered from qualified and experienced Social Workers working in other areas, as long as they can demonstrate strong transferability of skills.

Social Workers work within their clinical teams allocated to wards. The Social Work role is well integrated within the multi-disciplinary team approach and you will have key responsibilities in the completion of statutory reports, supporting carers and will be the clinical team lead for safeguarding.

Main duties of the job
West London NHS Trust delivers a forensic social work service across high, medium and low levels of security. We work within well-resourced multi-disciplinary teams, contributing to risk assessment and care planning from admission to discharge. We address the social care needs of patients within our services. Social Workers operate to the Forensic Mental Health Social Work: Capabilities Framework (2016) with opportunities for working across a number of specialist areas.

As a Forensic Social Worker, you will work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team attached to a ward. You will undertake statutory functions, including the completion of Social Circumstance, social history and CPA reports and take lead responsibility for safeguarding and Carers.

You will contribute fully to risk assessments and care pathway planning. You will work to the principles of the Recovery Model and will provide a social care perspective to patient care planning. You will have an active role in working closely and supporting the families and Carers of patients. You will take a lead on ensuring safeguarding adult and children concerns are progressed, working closely with the Team Manager.

Working for our organisation
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 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Ensure that inpatients have a social history completed to inform the post admission assessment process and in accordance with the post-admission pathway process.
Establish the home Responsible Local Authority for inpatients on admission, and escalate to Line Manager when efforts to establish the RLA prove problematic. Maintain links with the Responsible Local Authority and home Community Mental Health Team for each patient to ensure good liaison and care planning and timely transitions to lower secure environments and discharge from hospital
Gather information for needs assessment and risk analysis from patients and others such as family members and external social care and probation agencies.
Complete reports within deadlines.
Undertake assessment and analysis of risk to the public and staff or others of reoffending. Develop with multidisciplinary team colleagues risk management strategies and care plans for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients, taking a lead in relation to the individual social care needs.
Actively and assertively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, contributing a Social Work perspective, with particular emphasis on discharge pathways and on family and external community issues, planning proactively for suitable aftercare.
Provide Social Circumstances Reports for Mental Health Tribunals, Managers Hearings, and the Parole Board which conform to the standards for such reports
Attend Mental Health Tribunals and other formal meetings to represent a Social Work perspective.
Take a lead role within the multidisciplinary team to ensure that child and adult safeguarding is prioritised and procedures followed.
Take a lead role in the multidisciplinary team in enabling patients to exercise their rights.
Take a lead role within the multidisciplinary team in ensuring carers are advised in any patient / service user’s change of circumstances.
Promote good practice regarding equality, diversity and inclusion, specifically in relation to addressing racism and discrimination
Support families and carers to contribute to patients’ care and refer carers for specialist assistance where appropriate including a Carers Assessment.
Represent the views of the multidisciplinary team at external meetings, such as MAPPA level 2 or MARAC
Contribute to Ward Clinical Improvement Groups and Service Clinical Governance meetings
Contribute to the Social Work Team duty rota, and complete reports and other duty tasks as required
Maintain records in a timely and accurate matter in accordance with Trust policies and Social Work England expectations
Where agreed with the RLA, undertake initial Care Act assessments on behalf of the RLA, referring to local host area funding panels with regard to section 117 MHA
Undertake the role of Appropriate Adult, as outlined by PACE
Undertake the Social Supervision of patients subject to Conditional Discharge in agreed cases
Contribute to the development of any student social workers and newly qualified Social Workers placed within the team
Where the post holder is an AMHP, contribute to a partner local authority AMHP rota as agreed with management, and attend appropriate training and supervision.
Person specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria

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 criteria

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 criteria

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 criteria

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 criteria

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 criteria

Specialist knowledge in engaging with people with personality disorder and forensic histories
Group facilitation skills
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria

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)
As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to West London NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, you will be required to undergo a pre-employment checks which can take between 4-8 weeks . After which your information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR ).

Please ensure you include email addresses for your referees which MUST be at supervisory or managerial capacity covering the last 3 years of employment to date to avoid delay in the recruitment process.


The regulations mandating vaccination for in-scope roles in the NHS have now been removed. The Trust does however continue to encourage and support staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19. Vaccination data will be collected by our recruitment team during your on-boarding if you are happy to provide a copy of your COVID pass.


West London NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.