Forensic Social Worker Practitioner

NHS; Stafford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Stafford is looking for an experienced Forensic Social Worker Practitioner to join their Forensic Intensive Recovery Support Team. The role focuses on providing high-quality social work services for individuals transitioning from forensic inpatient services to the community. Candidates must possess a recognized social work qualification and have significant experience in mental health and forensic social work. The position requires good communication skills and knowledge of relevant mental health legislation.

Benefits

Career development support

Generous annual leave

Health and wellbeing resources

Mileage reimbursement

Free car parking

Free flu vaccinations

Qualifications

• Significant post qualification experience of complex interventions in mental health.
• Experience with the criminal justice system and community mental health team.
• Ability to work with patients who have committed serious criminal offenses.

Responsibilities

• Promote the rights of individuals receiving services.
• Provide comprehensive social work services and assessments.
• Maintain a caseload of specialist casework.

Skills

Good written and verbal communication skills

Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Acts

Experience in working with an ethnically diverse community

Education

Recognised Social Work qualification (CSS, CQSW, DipSW)

Approved Mental Health Professional status

Forensic Social Work experience

Job description

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Forensic Social Worker Practitioner

The closing date is 15 December 2025

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

The Forensic Intensive Recovery Support Team (FIRST) has an exciting vacancy for the position of Community Forensic Social Work Practitioner within our Multi- disciplinary community team.

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Social Worker to join our expanding team and work within the Forensic Intensive Recovery and Support Team (FIRST). We are looking for a social worker who is passionate about making a difference to the lives of people who have experienced forensic inpatient services and is committed to the development and delivery of a high quality, service and discharge pathway.

FIRST work closely with other forensic services in the West Midlands, as part of the REACH OUT partnership, a new provider collaborative. MPUFT's FIRST support men and women from the northern West Midlands in the process of discharge from forensic inpatient services and work to ensure safe, effective and successful transitions to the community. The post holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary service supporting transition of patient care from secure settings into the community.

Participation in an out of hours on call rota, to support crisis responses may be required.

Main duties of the job

There is an expectation that all work is underpinned by theoretical and practice knowledge and delivered to a high standard in line with statutory procedures and Social Work National Occupational standards. The post holder will maintain a caseload within the Forensic service and will be expected to work autonomously and take responsibility for the casework including highly complex assessments and interventions. The post holder will promote the principles of Recovery within a Forensic setting and be aware of the ethical challenges faced in long term restrictive environments. The post holder will have/develop a sophisticated awareness in assessing and managing risk. As the team expands and develops the post holder may be required to help provide provision of a 24-hour, 7 day per week crisis intervention service to cover community-based service users within the forensic directorate.

About us

By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by;

• Supporting your career development and progression
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Options for flexible working
• Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
• If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
• Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
• Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
• Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
• Free car parking at all trust sites
• Free flu vaccinations every year
• Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)

And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for the roles.

• To promote the rights of individuals receiving a service to be treated with dignity and respect, and to promote their involvement in all aspects of the service they receive valuing choice and promoting independence wherever possible.
• To provide a comprehensive social work service including specialist social work assessment (Care Act 2014) to patients within the unit. This includes active contribution of the social care perspective to forensic risk assessment and care planning through the Care Programme Approach (CPA) and liaising with area of origin.
• Represent the social care perspective within multi-disciplinary team to promote holistic approach to care and treatment.
• To maintain a caseload of specialist casework as agreed with team leader.
• To perform the role under the direction of the Team Lead and Advanced Forensic Social Worker in the FIRST Team.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

• A recognised Social Work qualification, CSS, CQSW, DipSW, etc.
• Significant post qualification experience of complex interventions in the field of Mental Health
• Approved Mental Health Professional status
• Forensic Social Work experience

EXPERIENCE

• Significant post qualification experience of complex interventions in the field of mental health.
• Significant experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system and roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders
• Community Mental Health Team experience
• Ability to work from a social care perspective with patients who have committed serious criminal offences and who may be experiencing severe and/or enduring mental health problems, including those with diagnosed personality disorders.
• Participation in regional and national forums
• Experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system and roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders
• Experience in working with adults with offending history

SKILLS KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

• Good written and verbal communication (English) skills.
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation including those relating to Mental Capacity Act 1995, Mental Health Acts 1983 & 2007 (including DOLS, IMHA, IMCA, & Court of Protection), Care Act 2014
• Experience of working in an ethnically diverse community
• Knowledge of working with Part III of 1983 MHA

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.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust