Social Worker (Eating Disorders)

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for newly qualified social worker to join South West London Mental Health Trust to develop their skills and knowledge in mental health social work. You will be working in the Eating Disorders Service and supported to develop specialist skills in this area. You will be providing social work interventions within a multi-agency team, contributing to holistic assessments, treatment, and support for service users with eating disorders. A key part of your role will be ensuring that adults and children are safeguarded and applying key legal frameworks, such as the Mental Capacity Act and Care Act. You will liaise closely with local authorities and other agencies to ensure service users have access to the services and resources they need in the community.

You will be supported to develop your social work and mental health skills and knowledge This will be through the through an Assessed and Supported Year of employment if you have not completed this already. You will receive the support, guidance, and training that you need to develop into a confident and knowledgeable mental health social worker.

Main duties of the job
You will be newly qualified social worker who is enthusiastic about working adults with mental health problems and developing your skills and knowledge about working with this client group. You will have good organisational and creative thinking/problem solving skills, as well as teamwork and passion. You will have some experience of working with adults with mental health diagnoses, undertaking assessments and knowledge of the legal and safeguarding frameworks. You will have experience of working effectively with other agencies to ensure best outcomes .

The Adult Eating Disorders Service at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust offers assessment, treatment, and care to adults with moderate to severe eating disorders in the 5 London Boroughs covered by the Trust in the form of an Outpatient/Community Service and Day Hospital. The service also provides inpatient treatment for adults with severe anorexia nervosa from all over the UK.

The post is based within the Avalon inpatient service at Springfield’s hospital; however, the remit will cover support for the Adult Day unit and the Outpatient service.

Working for our organisation
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

About our locations:

Springfield University Hospital, Tooting

Our largest, 19-ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities. A 32-acre public park, shops and cafes are coming soon. Close to shops, cafes and Tooting Bec on the Northern Line plus Earlsfield and Tooting rail stations and bus routes.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical and Managerial:

To identify and address safeguarding concerns and liaise with the clients relevant local safeguarding teams as necessary.

To maintain a sound and up to date working knowledge of relevant legislation, regulation, guidance, and best practice, including the MCA 2005, the MHA 1983 and the Care Act 2014

To be involved in providing assessment, treatment and consultation. Detailed assessments of clients and providing social work support and advice.

Taking responsibility for the social care and social work elements of practice and innovations for the eating disorders service.

To liaise clearly and collaboratively with the services multi-disciplinary team and with external teams and providers as required.

To join colleagues in assessment and planning meetings both for the inpatient services and community services.

To support the team with socio-therapeutic activities as required, including group work.

Service Development:
To help identify desirable service developments in accordance with needs of the service users and their carers.

To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of EDS services operational policies and services, as directed, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit.

To support on the development and implementation of social care related policies and services.

To contribute towards research initiatives and evidence-based practice.

To participate in managing systems for evaluating the quality of service provided.

To maintain accurate, reliable clinical records that are contemporaneous.

Teaching, Training and Supervision:

To be supported in undertaking a development year, under the Assessed and Supported Year of employment, with a bespoke personal development plan.

To receive relevant professional and managerial supervision from a senior social worker, Team Manager, Deputy Head of social work and group social work supervision.

To gain additional experiences and skills through courses and training relevant to the profession and the service as agreed in PADR and in accordance with the Trust Training and Development process and procedures.

Research and Service Evaluation:
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature, and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

To undertake appropriate research and provide advice to other staff undertaking research.

Other/General:
To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice.

To contribute to and commit to undertaking an annual professional development review (PADR).

To undertake personal and professional development as identified in the Personal Development Plan (PDP) as required by the service.

To liaise and maintain links with relevant outside agencies, local and voluntary and statutory bodies.

Legal literacy, to keep informed of new legislation, national and local policy and procedures.

To attend and participate in multidisciplinary staff meetings, supervision groups, staff reflection meetings, educational meetings, and Social Work Forum/annual conference.

To act as a resource to staff on social care issues.

Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Recognised UK social work qualification e.g., Social Work Degree, CQSW, CSS or Dip SW or recognised international equivalent and current eligibility for registration with SWE
• Social work England registration
Experience
Essential criteria

• Experience of working with people with mental health needs.
• Experience of working within a mental health setting
• Experience of undertaking comprehensive
• Experience within working withing the safeguarding frameworks
• Experience of collaborative working with a variety of professions, agencies, and providers
Desirable criteria

• Experience of working autonomously within a multi- professional environment
• Experience of working with service users who have eating disorders.
At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

BME (Evolve) Staff Network
Christian Staff Network
DiverseAbility
Deaf Staff Network
Mental Health Staff Forum
Women's Staff Network
LGBTQIA+
We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system
That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
That we are a smoke-free Trust