Band 6 Forensic Social Worker, Bristol

Avon And Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Nhs Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health trust in the UK is seeking a Forensic Social Worker for a full-time position within their secure units. The role requires a commitment to a social care perspective, managing workloads with multi-disciplinary teams, and undertaking complex case management. Applicants must hold a social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. This position aims to support some of society's most vulnerable individuals, promoting their rights and protection.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Opportunity to contribute to service development

Qualifications

• Commitment to social care perspective and anti-oppressive practice.
• Experience with severe mental health problems.
• Ability to complete high-quality reports and documents.

Responsibilities

• Work with multi-disciplinary teams and manage allocated workload.
• Complete reports and participate in Tribunals and Hearings.
• Direct work with service users and families.

Skills

Social care commitment

Working with multi-disciplinary teams

Excellent report writing

Risk assessments

Knowledge of legislation

Education

Social work qualification

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

Overview

The post-holder will have a commitment to a social care perspective, balancing the service user's rights with the protection of the public. The role requires working in an anti-oppressive manner, challenging discrimination appropriately and safeguarding the vulnerable. You will use your skills, values, expertise and knowledge to improve the lives of service users and their carers, often in isolated and stigmatised contexts.

Responsibilities

• Work with multi-disciplinary teams and take on workload allocated by the Responsible Clinician; share responsibility for the workload of the social work team as required.
• Complete high-quality reports and records, attend MDT meetings, and present/participate in Tribunals and Hearings.
• Liaise regularly with MAPPA, the Police, Safeguarding and Victim Liaison Officers, and collaborate with Local Authorities, recovery teams and specialist community forensic teams.
• Direct work with service users, carers and family members, including children when appropriate.
• Carry out statutory duties and responsibilities within relevant legislation.
• Independently manage a workload proportionate to level of competence, qualification and experience, prioritising service delivery.
• Undertake risk assessments for vulnerable adults and take action when service users’ or others’ liberty or safety is at stake according to legislation and Trust policies.
• Provide/enter accurate information into computer-based systems (e.g., Rio) and ensure records are accurate, up to date, secure and maintained in line with IT and Data Protection Act requirements.
• Undertake complex work requiring inter-agency collaboration and coordination.
• Apply advanced knowledge of a wide range of legislation and policies.
• Coordinate work with networks, communities and agencies; contribute to service development within legislative and policy frameworks.
• Be responsible for continuing professional development of self and contribute to the development of others.

Qualifications

• A social work qualification is essential and registration with Social Work England.
• Previous experience of working with service users who have severe mental health problems is essential.
• Some experience in a statutory setting is required.
• Knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 would be advantageous but is not essential.

Organisation and Values

We are proud to foster a diverse workforce and are committed to improving staff representation from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities, people with lived experience of mental health conditions and people living with disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Employer offering a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. Applications from people with a variety of disabilities and neurodivergent conditions are encouraged.

We encourage flexible working patterns to meet staff and service user needs.

About AWP

We are Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP), a diverse organisation with over 5,000 staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care. Services are provided across Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire and parts of Dorset. We promote mental health and wellbeing with a person-centred approach, recognising that happy, fulfilled employees deliver better care.

AWP supports a positive research and evidence-based environment. We actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds and welcome diverse experiences and perspectives as a strength.

Forensic Social Work Posting

We offer a full-time 12-month secondment for a social worker in the Forensic Social Work service at Fromeside Medium Secure Unit and Wickham Low Secure Unit. The Forensic Social Work team supports service users detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, embedding the social model within a medicalised environment to improve the experience of some of society’s most vulnerable people. The team works with service users, carers and multi-disciplinary teams across two hospitals: Fromeside (81-bed Medium Secure Unit) and Wickham (31-bed Low Secure Unit). The post holder may work across both sites or be allocated to one depending on caseload. A social work qualification and registration with Social Work England are essential.