Specialist Community Forensic Practitioner

NHS; Billericay; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a qualified social worker to join their Specialist Community Forensic Team. This role involves acting as a care coordinator for service users with complex needs, ensuring smooth transitions from secure placements to community settings. You will engage in therapeutic relationships, participate in specialist training, and collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team. If you are passionate about improving mental health services and have the relevant experience, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Social Work is essential.
• Experience in mental health and community settings is required.

Responsibilities

• Act as care coordinator for a small caseload of service users.
• Provide support for smooth transitions from secure settings to community.

Skills

Care Coordination

Mental Health Assessment

Therapeutic Interventions

Multi-disciplinary Teamwork

Crisis Management

Education

Degree in Social Work

Post Qualification Training

Tools

IT/Computer Skills

Job description

Job summary

This post is for qualified social workers. Any applications that do not meet this criteria we cannot accept

We are looking for an experienced mental health practitioner (social worker) with experience in the community and forensic fields to join the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT). This is a developing service that has been set up in response to the NHS New Care Models to improve the care of service users within the forensic mental health system. The SCFT works with mental health offenders from the Essex area who are being cared for within medium and low secure mental health units, primarily in Essex.

Main duties of the job

The main role is to act as a care coordinator/social supervisor to a small caseload (10 service users) with complex needs. This role will start with a period of 'in-reach' work with our service users for six to nine months prior to discharge with the aim of building good therapeutic relationships; with the aim to engage service users in their care planning, relapse prevention work and addressing potential challenges after discharge. As part of the role care coordinators will be given the opportunity to attend specialist training in the forensic mental health field.

About us

The successful candidate will work with the rest of the MDT and act as social supervisor/care coordinator for a small caseload of service users through the care system pathway from secure placement to community setting in self-contained accommodation, 24 hour supported care and intensive enablement placements.

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Details Date posted

09 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum, pro rata for part time + 5% HCA

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

364-A-8953

Job locations

No 2 Heath Close

Heath Close

Billericay

CM12 9NW

Job description Job responsibilities

The post holder has the responsibility of providing and enhancing services for individuals in secure settings pre, during and post discharge to support timely transitions to community settings.

The role will be embedded within a Multi-disciplinary team with a specific focus of expediting the safe, smooth discharge of service users specifically within Brockfield House and other secure services to a range of appropriate community placements. The post holder will be expected to provide care co-ordination for a small caseload and contribute to the development of robust risk assessments and care plans. The post holder would be required to attend regular inpatient reviews to monitor the progress of service users and to ensure that any potential delay to discharge is addressed at the earliest opportunity. The team will support clients across Essex.

The post holder is also expected to contribute and support the day to day operational management of the SCFT.

Job description Job responsibilities

The post holder has the responsibility of providing and enhancing services for individuals in secure settings pre, during and post discharge to support timely transitions to community settings.

The role will be embedded within a Multi-disciplinary team with a specific focus of expediting the safe, smooth discharge of service users specifically within Brockfield House and other secure services to a range of appropriate community placements. The post holder will be expected to provide care co-ordination for a small caseload and contribute to the development of robust risk assessments and care plans. The post holder would be required to attend regular inpatient reviews to monitor the progress of service users and to ensure that any potential delay to discharge is addressed at the earliest opportunity. The team will support clients across Essex.

The post holder is also expected to contribute and support the day to day operational management of the SCFT.

Person Specification Education & Qualifications Essential

• Professional Qualification in recognised Social Work Qualification - Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
• Evidence of post qualification training

Desirable

• HCR20 qualification.
• Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, or similar.

Knowledge Essential

• Understanding of their responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983.
• Understanding responsibilities under the Care Programme Approach, Mental Capacity Act, Clinical Governance, Safeguarding, Risk Assessment and Child Protection Legislation
• Demonstrate an up to date knowledge of current legislation and government policy.
• Understanding the principles and practice of leadership, supervision and management.
• Knowledge and skills to deliver a range of therapeutic interventions in a community setting
• Ability to work on own initiative and manage time effectively
• Evidence of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and maintain professional relationships within the MDT
• Evidence of supporting daily living and community networking

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional/personal development
• Knowledge of community mental health services.
• Knowledge of forensic mental health services
• Knowledge of statutory and non-statutory organisations in Essex.

Skills/Experience Essential

• Evidence of co-ordinating care for a group of service users.
• Experience of and ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care
• Ability to analyses and present complex information to professional colleagues
• Evidence of personal leadership skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively through verbal/written communication
• Literate in IT/Computer Skills
• Ability to inspire confidence in service users, carers and junior staff.
• Ability to set clear objectives/targets and prioritise workload and competing demands.
• Form sound assessments directly and indirectly from knowledge of others at work.
• Ability to build relationships and negotiate satisfactory outcomes.
• Understanding the impact of culture, social and health beliefs and opportunities on service users.

Desirable

• Experience of working within secure environments
• Understanding the principals of recovery.

Personal Qualities Essential

• Shares the Trust's beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour:
• Ensures that the organisational values of open, compassionate and empowering are demonstrated by self and others every day and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely way, either directly; or raised with the relevant Line Manager; or through the relevant processes within the Trust as appropriate
• Ability to work in an open manner as part of a team with a commitment to sharing and working alongside staff in own and other organisations, whilst at the same time recognising your own clinical responsibility and limitations.
• Demonstrates Energy, enthusiasm and resilience.
• Commitment to enhance own and staff development.
• Genuine commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices.

Desirable

• Excellent organisational skills.

Person Specification Education & Qualifications Essential

• Professional Qualification in recognised Social Work Qualification - Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
• Evidence of post qualification training

Desirable

• HCR20 qualification.
• Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, or similar.

Knowledge Essential

• Understanding of their responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983.
• Understanding responsibilities under the Care Programme Approach, Mental Capacity Act, Clinical Governance, Safeguarding, Risk Assessment and Child Protection Legislation
• Demonstrate an up to date knowledge of current legislation and government policy.
• Understanding the principles and practice of leadership, supervision and management.
• Knowledge and skills to deliver a range of therapeutic interventions in a community setting
• Ability to work on own initiative and manage time effectively
• Evidence of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and maintain professional relationships within the MDT
• Evidence of supporting daily living and community networking

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional/personal development
• Knowledge of community mental health services.
• Knowledge of forensic mental health services
• Knowledge of statutory and non-statutory organisations in Essex.

Skills/Experience Essential

• Evidence of co-ordinating care for a group of service users.
• Experience of and ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care
• Ability to analyses and present complex information to professional colleagues
• Evidence of personal leadership skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively through verbal/written communication
• Literate in IT/Computer Skills
• Ability to inspire confidence in service users, carers and junior staff.
• Ability to set clear objectives/targets and prioritise workload and competing demands.
• Form sound assessments directly and indirectly from knowledge of others at work.
• Ability to build relationships and negotiate satisfactory outcomes.
• Understanding the impact of culture, social and health beliefs and opportunities on service users.

Desirable

• Experience of working within secure environments
• Understanding the principals of recovery.

Personal Qualities Essential

• Shares the Trust's beliefs and models this in their attitude and behaviour:
• Ensures that the organisational values of open, compassionate and empowering are demonstrated by self and others every day and that any matters of concern are addressed in a timely way, either directly; or raised with the relevant Line Manager; or through the relevant processes within the Trust as appropriate
• Ability to work in an open manner as part of a team with a commitment to sharing and working alongside staff in own and other organisations, whilst at the same time recognising your own clinical responsibility and limitations.
• Demonstrates Energy, enthusiasm and resilience.
• Commitment to enhance own and staff development.
• Genuine commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices.

Desirable

• Excellent organisational skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

No 2 Heath Close

Heath Close

Billericay

CM12 9NW

Employer's website

https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

No 2 Heath Close

Heath Close

Billericay

CM12 9NW

Employer's website

https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)