Social Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; Hemel Hempstead, Bulwell; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Methodist Church in Britain is seeking a Band 6 social worker for a 12-month fixed-term post in the community mental health team in Dacorum. This role focuses on assessing needs, planning care, coordinating support, and promoting recovery, choice, and safeguarding for adults with mental ill-health.

You will work within a multi-disciplinary team, engaging with carers and ensuring access to appropriate services and support.

Qualifications

• Appropriate professional social work qualification and registration requirements.
• Degree-level education and post-qualifying training in outcomes-focused assessment and personalisation.
• Training and experience in safeguarding and risk management are essential.
• Experience working in adult social care and with carers is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess adults with mental ill-health and complex needs in line with Care Act criteria.
• Lead safeguarding practice and undertake safeguarding enquiries as needed.
• Coordinate care plans and manage risk to keep adults safe.
• Undertake carer assessments and plan contingencies for support.
• Commission services and manage direct payments where applicable.
• Provide information and signposting for those not meeting eligibility criteria.
• Deliver recovery-focused care emphasizing choice, independence and safety.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team to support service users and carers.
• Promote equality and diversity and challenge discrimination.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Assessment and care planning

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Professional social work qualification

Degree-level education

Job description

A Band 6 social work post in the community mental health team in Dacorum, a 12-month fixed-term role supporting adults with mental ill-health within a multi-disciplinary team. The work centres on assessing needs, planning care and coordinating support for adults and carers, with a focus on recovery, choice, control and safeguarding. The trust welcomes applicants relocating from London to the county. Candidates need registration with Social Work England, a full UK driving licence and access to a car.

What the job involves

• Assess adults with mental ill-health, including high-risk and complex cases, against Care Act 2014 eligibility criteria
• Lead on adult safeguarding practice and undertake safeguarding enquiries
• Coordinate care and produce care plans for adults, protecting adults and children from abuse
• Undertake regular risk assessments to keep vulnerable people safe
• Undertake carer assessments, including contingency planning and support
• Commission health and social care services with and for service users, including direct payments and charging processes where applicable
• Provide information, advice and signposting to people who do not meet eligibility criteria
• Deliver recovery-focused care and support based on choice, control, independence and safety
• Champion social care, equality and diversity, and challenge discrimination
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Support adults at risk of social inclusion and help them deal with adverse circumstances
• Ensure commissioned services offer choice and access to universal services

Qualifications

• Appropriate professional social work qualification
• Degree-level education
• Post-qualifying training, including outcomes-focused assessment and personalisation
• Training and experience in safeguarding

Registration & licences

• Registration with Social Work England

Experience

• Strong post-qualification experience
• Undertaking assessments, personalisation, choice and control, and care planning
• Personal budgets and direct payments
• Multidisciplinary and partnership working with service users and carers, showing dignity and respect

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of legislation, theory and policy for the relevant care group
• Excellent verbal and written communication with a wide range of stakeholders
• Managing highly sensitive information
• Accurate, timely reports using electronic recording systems
• Analysing service user and carer information, and small-scale audits and surveys

Checks & eligibility

• Full UK driving licence and access to a car, unless a disability under the Equality Act 2010 prevents driving

Other

• Ability to visit and attend meetings at a variety of locations and environments

Nice to have

• Approved Mental Health Professional or Best Interests Assessor training
• Experience as an Approved Mental Health Professional and/or Best Interests Assessor