Social Worker

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday

Relocation package

Season ticket loans

Excellent pension

Job summary

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) seeks a motivated social worker to join the Chelmsford Community Mental Health Team. You will deliver holistic, recovery-focused care, assess needs and coordinate support with families and carers alongside a multi-disciplinary team.

The role offers AMHP development, flexible working and commitment to safeguarding, equality and high-quality care within a forward-looking NHS Trust in Essex.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification required (Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or CSS).
• Ability to work autonomously within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong IT/computer skills and case management capability.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality assessment and intervention for service users with mental health needs.
• Deliver strength-based approaches to support recovery and social inclusion.
• Implement the Care Act duties and personalise support plans.
• Contribute to safeguarding, supervision, and AMHP training if applicable.

Skills

Social work

Autonomy

Teamwork

Education

Social work degree

Tools

IT skills

Job description

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life - and make a difference to other people's lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and resourceful Social Worker to join our Community Mental Health Team in Chelmsford, Mid Essex. This role requires a creative and positive approach to meeting the needs of service users, their families, and carers.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) delivers secondary mental health services across Mid Essex, providing specialist care for individuals with severe or complex mental health needs. As part of the Chelmsford team, you will work closely with crisis intervention services, inpatient care, and specialist pathways such as early intervention in psychosis and personality disorder support. You will also collaborate with GPs through initiatives like the Integrated Mental Health Service, which offers assessments and tailored support plans at GP surgeries, and work alongside Essex County Council to implement the Care Act principles of prevent, reduce, and delay.

Main duties of the job

This role emphasizes holistic, person-centred care, safeguarding, and recovery-focused interventions for adults in the Chelmsford area. You will have the opportunity to exercise professional autonomy while benefiting from the support and expertise of a multi-disciplinary team.

Chelmsford, located in Essex, has a population of approximately 93,000 residents with a relatively young demographic (median age 37). Around 61% of residents are of working age, and the town is ethnically diverse, with 27% identifying as an ethnicity other than White British. Languages spoken include English, Polish, and South Asian languages. This diversity brings varied social care needs, including support for families, older adults, and culturally diverse communities.

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.


• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.


• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.


• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.


• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.


• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.


• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us


• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.


• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.


• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

EPUT invests in the development of social workers and plays a leading role in initiatives such as Think Ahead. We offer support from our Social Care Leadership Team, structured caseload supervision, and extensive training opportunities, including AMHP training, therapy training (EMDR, CBT, DBT), and specialist roles in areas such as Dual Diagnosis, Perinatal, Psychosis, and Personality Disorder. Career progression is actively encouraged for aspiring leaders and clinical experts.

Responsibilities

Provide high-quality assessment and intervention for service users experiencing a wide range of mental health problems, promoting recovery and independence.

Deliver strength-based approaches to support recovery and social inclusion for individuals and families.

Implement the personalisation agenda through strengths-based assessments and fulfil statutory social care duties under the Care Act (2014).

Following probation, undertake AMHP training if not already qualified, and carry out Mental Health Act assessments and related duties. AMHP work attracts additional pay and reduced caseloads.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Person specification

qualification

Essential criteria

• Social Work Qualification - Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Studying or willingness to study towards full Post Qualification Award in Social Work

Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to offer coaching and support to students and/or unqualified staff and supervise as required.


• Demonstrates a commitment to highest professional and ethical values.


• Literate in IT/Computer Skills

Desirable criteria

• Communication and presentation skills.

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services.

As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email [e-mail] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre-employment checks.

Please note - staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered 'suitable alternative employment' to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.