Social Work Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; Bradford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Strong career progression

Monthly reflective practice and expert

Supervision

Peer support

Cycle to Work

Employee discounts

Healthcare and financial benefits

Professional development

Job summary

Cygnet Hospital Bierley is looking for a Social Work Assistant to support social workers in meeting the social care needs of service users in a mental health setting. The role involves safeguarding, reporting for MDTs, and ensuring patients and families understand legal rights.

The post requires prior mental health experience or a strong interest, knowledge of the Mental Health Act, and an enhanced DBS check.

Qualifications

• Experience in a mental health setting or clear passion for the field
• Knowledge of safeguarding, data protection, confidentiality, equality and diversity
• Awareness of the Mental Health Act
• Excellent communication and report writing skills

Responsibilities

• Assist social workers to meet service users' needs and involve families where appropriate
• Lead on the social care needs of patients
• Ensure safeguarding within multidisciplinary teams and provide reports for MDTs
• Inform patients and families about their legal rights
• Work with service users, families and stakeholders
• Contribute to high-quality patient care
• Maintain links with other statutory agencies

Skills

Mental health experience

Safeguarding

Health & safety

Data protection

Confidentiality

Equality & diversity

Mental Health Act

Communication skills

Report writing

Attention to detail

Job description

Social Work Assistant post at Cygnet Hospital Bierley, a mental health hospital offering acute and low secure care for men and women across four single-sex wards. The work supports social workers in meeting service users' social care needs, including keeping families informed of legal rights and contributing safeguarding reports to multidisciplinary teams. It is a full-time, 40-hour role, and candidates need prior mental health experience or a strong interest in the field plus knowledge of the Mental Health Act. An enhanced DBS check is required.

What the job involves

• Assist social workers so the discipline meets the identified needs of service users and, where appropriate, their families
• Lead on the social care needs of patients
• Ensure safeguarding within multidisciplinary teams and provide reports for MDTs and others
• Ensure patients and their families or carers are aware of their legal rights
• Work in partnership with service users, families and other stakeholders
• Contribute to the provision of high-quality care for patients
• Forge links and maintain contact with other statutory agencies

What's required

Experience

• Experience working in a mental health setting, or a clear passion for the field

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, data protection, confidentiality, equality and diversity
• Awareness of the Mental Health Act
• Excellent communication with strong interpersonal, IT and telephone skills
• Skilled report writing with excellent literacy and attention to detail

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check

What's offered

• Pension scheme
• Strong career progression, including into management roles
• Monthly reflective practice, expert supervision and peer support
• Employee referral scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee discounts on shopping, travel and leisure
• Healthcare and financial benefits
• Professional development