Senior Practitioner (Social Worker)

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Senior Practitioner to join their assertive community service focused on adults recovering from first episode psychosis in London. The role involves providing clinical leadership, managing complex cases, and contributing to high-quality, person-centred care. Applicants should possess relevant professional registration and substantial experience in community mental health care.

Qualifications

• Professional registration in mental health or social care is essential.
• Continuing professional development required.
• Substantial experience in community mental health care necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and supervision to team members.
• Manage a small caseload of complex cases.
• Participate in daily team meetings and operational management.

Skills

Knowledge of the presentation of mental health problems

Experience of multi-disciplinary working

Ability to communicate with service users

Education

Relevant professional registration (RMN, Social Work, Occupational Therapy)

First or master's degree level

Job description

Job summary

EQUIP provides an assertive and responsive service to adults aged 18 - 65 for up to 3 years during their recovery from a first episode of psychosis. The service covers the City of London and London Borough of Hackney. Emphasis is placed on maximising wellbeing and on social, psychological, physical and educational/vocational recovery. The team works to standards set for early intervention in psychosis teams and participates in the annual National Clinical Audit on Psychosis. The team also works closely with the early detection team, HEADS UP, which provides support to those who are at risk of developing psychosis, and actively connects with local community groups in order to improve detection rates of this group.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Practitioner role within the Service provides clinical leadership to EQUIP staff, ensuring that the service provided is high quality and person-centred. Each Senior Practitioner will provide professional and line management supervision to Band 6 nursing and/or social work staff, as well as carrying a small caseload of complex cases. They will participate in a duty senior rota, including chairing the daily RAG meeting, providing support and guidance to duty workers and other members of the MDT, and participating in allocation of work. They will also chair the clinical, and other, meetings as required. They will provide support to the Operational Lead in providing day-to-day operational management, contributing to the development of policy and practice, and deputising for the Operational Lead as required. It is intended that the service will devleop 2 geographically aligned sub-teams, each co-led by 2 senior practitioners.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details Date posted

06 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£54,320 to £60,981 a year per annum Inc HCAs

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-CH7146442

Job locations

Vivienne Cohen House

230 Homerton High Street

London

E9 6AT

Job description Job responsibilities

To form effective working relationships with:

• Patients, their networks and carers
• Operational Lead & other members of the MDT
• Colleagues within the Early Intervention inpatient ward
• Colleagues within the Neighbourhoods, Assessment and Complex Needs Services
• Partner agencies, including primary care services, local authority services and voluntary agencies
• Colleagues within other services, such as the Crisis Pathway and Inpatient Services
• Staff in other NHS Trusts

Job description Job responsibilities

To form effective working relationships with:

• Patients, their networks and carers
• Operational Lead & other members of the MDT
• Colleagues within the Early Intervention inpatient ward
• Colleagues within the Neighbourhoods, Assessment and Complex Needs Services
• Partner agencies, including primary care services, local authority services and voluntary agencies
• Colleagues within other services, such as the Crisis Pathway and Inpatient Services
• Staff in other NHS Trusts

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Relevant professional registration (RMN, Social Work, Occupational Therapy)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• First or master's degree level or evidence of study toward qualification

Experience Essential

• Substantial experience of providing secondary community mental health care
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working
• Experience of supervising and appraising staff

Desirable

• Experience of deputising and leading an MDT in the absence of the manager

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Knowledge of the presentation of mental health problems in adult mental health secondary care
• Knowledge of current best practice within early intervention in psychosis services, in order support to adults recovering from a first episode psychosis as well as other mental health issues, and of At Risk Mental State
• Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act 1998, Care Act 2014) and policy (e.g. safeguarding children, safeguarding adults)
• Understanding of the principles of collaborative working and care planning, ensuring clients and families are as fully involved and participative as is possible
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance
• Understanding of clinical audit and research in Mental Health Care for adults and in first episode psychosis
• Knowledge of equal opportunities policies and practice and how they affect staff and service users
• Understanding of working across organisational boundaries
• Ability to undertake mental health assessments in a professional and sensitive manner
• Ability to communicate with service users, families/ carers and colleagues across agencies effectively
• Ability to negotiate and lead across professional boundaries
• Ability to identify best practice and develop action plans to resolve poor practice
• Ability to challenge traditional methods of practice in a constructive manner

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Relevant professional registration (RMN, Social Work, Occupational Therapy)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• First or master's degree level or evidence of study toward qualification

Experience Essential

• Substantial experience of providing secondary community mental health care
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working
• Experience of supervising and appraising staff

Desirable

• Experience of deputising and leading an MDT in the absence of the manager

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Knowledge of the presentation of mental health problems in adult mental health secondary care
• Knowledge of current best practice within early intervention in psychosis services, in order support to adults recovering from a first episode psychosis as well as other mental health issues, and of At Risk Mental State
• Understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act 1998, Care Act 2014) and policy (e.g. safeguarding children, safeguarding adults)
• Understanding of the principles of collaborative working and care planning, ensuring clients and families are as fully involved and participative as is possible
• Understanding of the principles of clinical governance
• Understanding of clinical audit and research in Mental Health Care for adults and in first episode psychosis
• Knowledge of equal opportunities policies and practice and how they affect staff and service users
• Understanding of working across organisational boundaries
• Ability to undertake mental health assessments in a professional and sensitive manner
• Ability to communicate with service users, families/ carers and colleagues across agencies effectively
• Ability to negotiate and lead across professional boundaries
• Ability to identify best practice and develop action plans to resolve poor practice
• Ability to challenge traditional methods of practice in a constructive manner

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

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Vivienne Cohen House

230 Homerton High Street

London

E9 6AT

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Vivienne Cohen House

230 Homerton High Street

London

E9 6AT

Employer's website

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