Mental Health Social Worker - North and West AMHT

Bidvane; Witney; Remote; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave + bank holidays

Competitive pension scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Protected ASYE year

Lease car scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in Banbury is recruiting social workers for its North and West AMHT. You will conduct statutory Care Act and s.117 assessments, advocate for service users and work with carers during crises, balancing rights and safeguarding responsibilities.

Qualified social workers or nearing completion of a social work degree/masters are welcome. Registration with Social Work England is required and Ashore support will be provided for ASYE.

Qualifications

• Experience of assessing need and implementing and reviewing care and support packages.
• Practical knowledge of the Care Act, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act with codes and statutory guidance.
• Understanding of mental health conditions and models of mental disorder.
• Knowledge of safeguarding (including Making Safeguarding Personal) and how to raise concerns.
• Understanding of social perspective and rights-based, person-centred approaches.
• Strengths and rights-based approach to Care Act and s.117 assessments.
• Communication skills to engage people who use mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Provide statutory social care assessments under the Care Act and s.117 aftercare, identifying and meeting need and ensuring timely review of support packages.
• Work with people to make self-directed change and support recovery as they define it.
• Provide advocacy and work in partnership with carers, especially at times of crisis.
• Use safeguarding adults knowledge to identify abuse and neglect and protect people with other agencies.
• Use the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act to support people who cannot make decisions, balancing their rights with those of others.
• Promote a social and rights-based perspective within the multidisciplinary team and beyond.
• Liaise with other agencies so the needs and rights of people with lived experience are central to services.
• Work with complexity and risk.
• Improve mental health outcomes for service users.

Skills

Care Act knowledge

Mental Health Act

Mental Capacity Act

Rights-based approach

Communication skills

Safeguarding

Advocacy

Education

Qualified social worker

Social work degree or Masters (near completion)

Job description

An integrated adult mental health team in Banbury, part of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, is recruiting social workers for its North and West AMHT, including newly qualified staff. The core of the work is statutory Care Act and section 117 assessments, with advocacy, carer support and safeguarding. Newly qualified staff get a protected caseload during their supported year, and the team promotes a social and rights-based approach. Social Work England registration, or nearing completion of a qualification, is needed.

What the job involves

• Provide statutory social care assessments under the Care Act and s.117 aftercare, identifying and meeting need and ensuring timely review of support packages
• Work with people to make self-directed change and support recovery as they define it
• Provide advocacy and work in partnership with carers, especially at times of crisis
• Use safeguarding adults knowledge to identify abuse and neglect and protect people with other agencies
• Use the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act to support people who cannot make decisions, balancing their rights with those of others
• Promote a social and rights-based perspective within the multidisciplinary team and beyond
• Liaise with other agencies so the needs and rights of people with lived experience are central to services
• Work with complexity and risk
• Improve mental health outcomes for service users

What’s required

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker, or nearing completion of a social work degree or Masters

Registration & licences

• Social Work England registration

Experience

• Experience of assessing need and implementing and reviewing care and support packages

Skills & knowledge

• Practical knowledge of the Care Act, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act, with codes and statutory guidance
• Understanding of mental health conditions and models of mental disorder
• Knowledge of s.42 Care Act safeguarding and Making Safeguarding Personal, including recognising abuse and how to raise concerns for adults, children and young people
• Understanding of the social perspective of mental health and rights-based, person-centred approaches
• Strengths and rights-based approach to Care Act and s.117 aftercare assessments
• Communication skills to engage people who use mental health services

Other

• Promoting the social perspective of mental health across the wider MDT

Nice to have

• Higher level qualification in BIA and/or AMHP
• Knowledge of Court of Protection applications
• Knowledge of housing legislation

What’s offered

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• Competitive pension scheme
• Tailored individual and Trust-wide learning and development
• Protected caseload during the ASYE supported year
• Investment in higher level post-qualifying development
• Career progression opportunities
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme