Senior Social Worker - Inpatient

NHS; Oxford; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Oxford is looking for a Senior Social Worker to join their dynamic team. The role involves conducting assessments, leading safeguarding processes, and ensuring safe discharge planning for patients with acute mental health difficulties. The ideal candidate is passionate about recovery-focused care and committed to high standards.

Benefits

Career Progression

Learning Opportunities

Generous Annual Leave

NHS Discounts

Pension Scheme

Lease Car Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health First Aiders

Staff Accommodation

Support Groups

Qualifications

• Qualified and experienced Social Worker required.
• Experience in safeguarding and complex assessments.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex psychosocial assessments and lead safeguarding processes.
• Coordinate discharge planning with community teams and local authorities.

Skills

Social Work

Safeguarding

Complex Psychosocial Assessments

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

Job summary

Are you a qualified and experienced Social Worker seeking a new challenge in a dynamic and fast-paced environment?

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Senior Social Worker to join our supportive multi-disciplinary team within adult inpatient services. This pivotal role requires a qualified and passionate individual who thrives in a recovery-focused environment and is committed to high standards of care for adults with acute mental health difficulties.

As part of our team, you will collaborate with service users, carers, and professionals to support safe discharge planning and social recovery. Your responsibilities will include conducting complex psychosocial assessments, safeguarding, contributing to Mental Health Act processes, and promoting trauma-informed, strength-based care.

Main duties of the job

This role will focus on ensuring effective patient flow from inpatient care, working with colleagues to report delayed discharges and coordinate actions to support timely and safe discharges, particularly for those ready for discharge but facing systemic delays. The post holder will negotiate with team managers to allocate resources, prioritize cases, and facilitate joint working to prevent deprivation of liberty beyond necessary limits.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide specialist social care assessments and interventions within an acute inpatient setting.
• Lead safeguarding processes, including Section 42 enquiries.
• Act as the lead professional for service users under the Care Programme Approach (CPA).
• Coordinate with community teams, local authorities, and partner agencies for discharge planning.
• Provide guidance, supervision, and mentorship to junior staff and students.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work, emphasizing your professional growth. We encourage applicants to read the 'candidate guide to making an application', attached to all roles. Please include detailed qualifications, especially those relevant to clinical roles, and tailor your supporting statement to address the essential criteria listed in the JD.

We serve a broad community across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath, and North East Somerset, delivering care at community bases, hospitals, clinics, and homes. Our vision is to ensure everyone receives: 'Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team.'

Our values are: 'Caring, safe and excellent.'

Benefits include career progression, learning opportunities, generous annual leave, NHS discounts, pension scheme, lease car scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders, staff accommodation, and support groups.

Job details

Date posted: 16 May 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 267-OA7159987-1A

Location: Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, Oxford, OX3 7JX

Job responsibilities

We hope this overview clarifies the skills and opportunities associated with this role. Please use the supporting statement in your application to demonstrate your suitability, referring to the job description, person specification, and guidance notes to tailor your application effectively.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used for shortlisting and interview decisions. Ensure you address these criteria in your application to enhance your chances of success.