Senior Social Worker and AMHP (Forensic) - 247250

Wakefield Council; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Wakefield Council is seeking a Senior Social Worker/AMHP to join the specialist forensic social work team in a secure mental health inpatient service. This temporary role is open to internal and external applicants, with secondment available for internal staff.

You will deliver forensic social work interventions, support service users and families, coordinate discharge planning, and work with partner agencies to promote recovery, safeguarding and social inclusion.

Qualifications

• recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
• Experience in mental health, forensic services or related fields.
• Excellent communication and partnership-working skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality forensic social work interventions and psychosocial support.
• Coordinate discharge planning from admission through community transition.
• Collaborate with health colleagues, local authorities, and criminal justice agencies.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, care planning reviews and risk management.
• Promote service user rights, safeguarding, recovery and social inclusion.
• Support statutory social work functions and compliance with legislation.

Skills

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Discharge planning

Partnership working

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Problem solving

Trauma-informed practice

Recovery-focused practice

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Senior Social Worker and AMHP (Forensic) - 247250

Join a Specialist Forensic Social Work Team

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Social Worker to join our specialist Forensic Social Work Team within a secure mental health inpatient service. We welcome applications from Senior Social Workers and Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) who are passionate about improving outcomes for people receiving forensic mental health care.

This temporary position is open to both internal and external applicants. Internal Wakefield Council employees interested in applying on a secondment basis should discuss this with their line manager and obtain approval before applying.

Key Roles

As a member of a specialist forensic social work team, you will play a key role in supporting service users, their families and carers throughout their care pathway.

You will work collaboratively within multidisciplinary clinical teams and alongside a wide range of partner agencies to deliver high-quality, person-centred interventions that promote recovery, social inclusion and safe community reintegration.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering high-quality forensic social work interventions and psychosocial support.
• Supporting service users and their families throughout their care pathway.
• Coordinating and contributing to discharge planning from admission through to community transition.
• Working collaboratively with health colleagues, local authorities, criminal justice agencies and community services.
• Contributing to multidisciplinary meetings, care planning reviews, risk management processes and case formulations.
• Promoting service user rights, safeguarding, recovery and social inclusion.
• Supporting statutory social work functions and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and policy.

We are seeking a confident and skilled practitioner who can work effectively within a complex and challenging forensic mental health environment.

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about the role, the recruitment process or working for Wakefield Council, feel free to contact.

Name: Anita Theaker

Tel: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Join us and make a real impact in the community.

Essential Requirements

• A recognised Social Work qualification, current registration with Social Work England and evidence of continuing professional development and post-qualifying training.
• Experience of social work practice within mental health, forensic services, criminal justice settings or closely related fields.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and partnership-working skills.
• Strong organisational, analytical, negotiation and problem-solving abilities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated legislation.
• Sound knowledge of adult safeguarding legislation, policy and practice.
• Excellent risk assessment, risk management and decision-making skills.
• The ability to navigate complex systems and facilitate care pathways across organisational boundaries.
• A commitment to strengths-based, trauma-informed, recovery-focused and anti-oppressive practice.
• Experience of working therapeutically with service users, families and carers to promote positive outcomes.
• The resilience and professional confidence to work within a secure and integrated forensic service.
• Experience of working within forensic mental health services or secure care settings.
• Knowledge of criminal justice processes, MAPPA arrangements and public protection frameworks.