Service Lead for Social Work - Forensic & Prison Services

Job summary

We are recruiting a full-time Service Lead for Social Work to further develop the Social Work provision across Oxford Health's Forensic and Prison Services.

Using specialist casework skills, you'll carry a complex caseload as well as provide supervision to practising Social Workers across the service. Taking a lead in the development of the service, there are opportunities to implement and embed initiatives in line with Directorate, Trust, Provider Collaborative, national health and social care priorities.

Key responsibilities include professional supervision of Social Work staff across the Forensic and Prison Services to undertake statutory responsibilities in relation to the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Care Act including Section 75 provision. You'll also be leading on Safeguarding across the service. The role involves line management responsibilities for the Inpatient Social Work team as well as clinical and professional supervision responsibilities for Social Workers across the service.

If you're a registered social worker with extensive experience in mental health and strong leadership skills, we'd love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

-Provide leadership for the Social Work staff within the Forensic and Prison Mental Health Mental Health -Service, developing a strengths-based culture through supervision and coaching.
-Enable strategic development of the profession in accordance with national and local NHS and Social Care -Policy and guidance.
-Be accountable for the professional performance of Social Work staff within the Forensic and Prison Mental Health Mental Health Service and to perform a representative and advisory role for this service for matters relating to the profession.
-Offer advice to the Head of Service, Clinical Director and Service Directors on the social work role, staffing levels and skill mix within service developments for the Forensic and Prison Mental Health Service.
-In partnership with the Head of Service/Clinical Directors, strategically develop the contribution of social work for the care group.
-Represent the Forensic Social Work service at local, regional and national forums, including the Provider Collaborative.
-Work collaboratively with the Trust Associate Director for Social Work and Social Care, Forensic Professional Lead for AHPs and Social Work, Lead Social Workers for the Forensic and Prison Mental Health Service to ensure the provision of a co-ordinated, integrated and responsive Social Work service.

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:

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

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.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential
-Social Work Qualification
-Post registration qualification eg PEPs

Desirable
-Warranted AMHP
-Social Supervisor training

Experience

Essential
-Mental Health Social Work
-Leadership

Desirable
-Forensic Mental Health

Skills

Essential
-Strengths based assessment and intervention
-Multi-agency communication
-IT systems

Desirable
-Advanced IT skills