Newly qualified social worker

A fantastic position has become available in the Early Intervention in psychosis service for a Band 5 Newly qualified social worker

We are currently expanding the well-established Countywide Early Intervention in Psychosis service. The service provides a focussed and specific community provision for the population of Bedfordshire & Luton, in response to the needs of individuals and their families experiencing a first episode of psychosis. The team works across CAMH services and Adult Mental Health Services with an age range starting at 14 years. We are therefore looking for skilled and well-motivated mental health social workers to join both our North Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire teams.

ELFT and our local borough councils offer training opportunities to support Social Workers to maintain their professional registration with Social Work England. We believe the natural progression for a Social Worker within Mental Health Services is to strive towards completing their Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) training.

We also offer the opportunity to be trained in Behavioural Family Therapy, CAARMs Assessment tool and psychosocial interventions. In addition, the team holds monthly team development days to support continuous professional development.

We believe that psychosis is treatable and recovery is expected.

Main duties of the job

The post is suitable for a newly qualified (or soon to be qualified) registered social worker who would value the opportunity to participate in an ASYE (assessed and supported year in employment) training program. During this year, supported by a dedicated senior mental health social worker, you will undertake a number of activities to support your development of core competencies, necessary for a social worker specialising in Mental health.

The post holder will hold a caseload of clients with oversight from an allocated senior mental health practitioner. Working flexibly to deliver packages of care under CPA, a good knowledge of risk management and psychosis will be essential. You will be required to deliver statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, including assessment of need and safeguarding, ensuring that all are undertaken within the principles of personalisation. Our social workers are at the heart of achieving the aspirations of the service users and carers we work with providing the opportunity to focus on peoples assets and strengths and to consider holistic, creative solutions to support the individual.

The post holder will be required to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a car for business purposes.

About us

Social workers in ELFT work across a range of settings including Adult and Older Persons Mental Health, Forensic, Crisis and CAMHs Services and increasingly in Primary Care settings.

There are social workers in various management posts across ELFT including a Director of Social Work and a Learning and Development Lead for Social Work.

Wherever the base, ELFT values the skills and contribution of social workers and encourages them to maintain the requirements of their professional registration and will uphold the values and practice of Social Work across the organisation.

We want social workers to feel valued and supported in ELFT and to promote and support social work as a profession.

We will offer you:
oTraining and development opportunities specific to social work including ASYE, AMHP training and PE training
oSocial work professional supervision
oSocial work forums and seminars
oA voice in the organisation and recognition of the skills and values you bring
oThe opportunity to progress through the organisation as a social worker in a senior role
Please contact us if you would like to know more about working in ELFT as a social worker.

Job description

Job responsibilities

oTo participate in the ASYE training programme
oTo coordinate care for a defined caseload of service users with the guidance and support of your nominated supervisor
oTo endorse and act in accordance with the principles of personalisation within The Care Act 2014 to ensure that care and support is person centred and as far as possible places people in control of their own lives. In doing so they will carry out assessments of need in accordance with The Care Act, plan and deliver services and review outcomes with the individual, their personal networks and support providers.
oTo work in partnership with service users and carers, identifying and utilising strengths and working closely with other agencies and voluntary groups to ensure good outcomes which, as far as possible, maintain independence.
oTo maintain a good working knowledge of The Care Act, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act/DOLS and other social care legislation to inform a social perspective to their work and promote social care issues within the team.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential
oQualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England

Desirable
oEducated to Degree Level

Experience

Essential
oExperience of working within a multi-disciplinary environment/community experience.
oExperience of working within an NHS/Local Authority environment and an understanding of the issues/ policies/ practice within these environments.
oExperience of working within mental health services

Knowledge and Skills

Essential
oUnderstanding a range of models of mental disorder and the treatment options.
oComprehensive understanding of the social determinants of mental illness and interventions to support recovery.
oAn understanding of the principles of early intervention in psychosis
oWorking knowledge of the The Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and other social care & mental health legislation, policy & guidance
oGood report writing skills and ability to compile complex case recording ad report presentation, including legal documents i.e. social circumstances reports, court reports etc.
oAssessment skills and the ability to compile care plans in partnership with service users, carers and others

Desirable
oAssertiveness and engagement with other professionals, able to make reasoned arguments and represent own professional views and perspectives

Other

Essential
oCar driver essential and be able to travel between Trust sites throughout the County
oFull clean driving licence