Social Worker

Hpft; Radlett; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated Social Worker to join the Community Forensic Team, working with adults with significant mental health needs and public safety concerns. You will assess needs, develop person-centred care plans and promote recovery and safe community living.

You will collaborate with families, carers and MDT members to manage risk, safeguard individuals, and coordinate services across health, social care, housing and criminal justice sectors.

Qualifications

• An appropriate social work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• Education to degree level is required.
• AMHP training or willingness to undertake within a year.
• Master’s degree or equivalent post-qualifying training.
• Best Interest Assessor training is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to risk assessment, risk-management plans and relapse-prevention strategies.
• Complete social care assessments and develop person-centred care plans.
• Support recovery and safe community reintegration for adults with complex needs.
• Engage in multi-agency and multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Apply mental health, safeguarding and social care legislation in practice.

Skills

Social work skills

Risk assessment

Care planning

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Advocacy

Education

Social work qualification

Registered Social Worker (SW England)

Approved Mental Health Professional training

Master’s degree

Best Interest Assessor training

Job description

Site 6 Forest Lane, Town Harper Lane Salary £41,957 - £50,387 per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS) Salary period Yearly Closing 05/11/2026 23:59

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust we are looking for people to join us who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered please take part on our online values questionnaire, which you can find below. When you have finished you will be sent a 'completion code' by email, which will be valid for 6 months and required to submit your application form.

The Community Forensic Team is seeking a dedicated Social Worker to work with adults who have significant mental health needs and who may have offended or present a risk to others. The primary focus of the role is to promote recovery, reduce risk, support social inclusion, and contribute to public safety through effective assessment, intervention, and care coordination.

The post holder will work collaboratively with service users to enhance their wellbeing, independence, and safe integration within the community. They will undertake comprehensive social care assessments, develop person-centred care plans, and support individuals to access appropriate services and opportunities.

The Social Worker will work closely with families, carers, stakeholders, and members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to assess and manage risk, safeguard individuals and others, uphold human rights, and support safe community living. The role also involves partnership working with health, social care, housing, criminal justice, and voluntary sector agencies to ensure coordinated and effective care delivery.

Main duties of the job

The overall purpose of the role is to promote recovery, support safe community living, reduce risk, protect the public, and improve outcomes for adults with complex mental health and forensic needs through effective social work practice and multi-agency collaboration.

Working for our organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. E verything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Risk Assessment and Risk Management

• Contribute to forensic risk formulations, risk-management plans, relapse-prevention plans and contingency arrangements.
• Monitor changes in mental state, behaviour or social circumstances and escalat emerging concerns appropriately.

Care Planning and Case Management

• Manage an allocated caseload, where this forms part of the local service model.
• Complete social care assessments and contribute to person-centred care plans and regular reviews.
• Maintain accurate, timely records and complete agreed statutory and professional actions.

Recovery and Community Reintegration

• Support safe transitions from secure hospitals, inpatient services or criminal justice pathways into the community.
• Help service users access suitable accommodation, welfare benefits, education, employment and meaningful activity.
• Promote independence, social inclusion, engagement with treatment, coping skills and relapse prevention.

Multi-Agency and Multidisciplinary Working

• Work collaboratively with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, support staff and other social workers.
• Liaise with probation, police, MAPPA, housing, social care, voluntary organisations and community mental health services.

Mental Health Act and Legal Responsibilities

• Apply relevant mental health, mental capacity, safeguarding and social care legislation in practice.
• Act as Social Supervisor for conditionally discharged patients where required and appropriately appointed.
• Attend Section 117 aftercare meetings, multidisciplinary reviews, tribunals and professional meetings, and contribute to reports for the Ministry of Justice or other statutory bodies when required.

Safeguarding, Advocacy and Family Work

• Promote the service user’s rights, dignity, strengths and participation in care planning while considering public safety.
• Advocate for access to appropriate services and involve families and carers constructively where appropriate.

Professional Practice

• Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and high-quality documentation.
• Participate in supervision, reflective practice, training, service development and quality improvement.

Person specification

Qualifications

• An appropriate social work qualification Registration with Social Work England Education to degree level
• Approved Mental Health Professional training and qualification (or prepared to undertake training within a year of appointment to role)
• Master’s degree or equivalent post-qualifying training
• Relevant post-qualifying training for social workers Other relevant post-qualification training (e.g. CBT, family therapy)
• Best Interest Assessor training

Experience

• Significant post-qualification experience with demonstrable evidence of excellent practice at advanced level.
• Extensive knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance, theory and policy in relation to adult and children's social care
• Experience of undertaking assessment focused personalisation, choice and control, and care planning
• Understanding of and experience of use of personal budgets and direct payments
• Experience of supervising and mentoring others
• Evidence of multidisciplinary and collaborative working
• Evidence of partnership working with service users and carers, demonstrating dignity and respect, particularly in very challenging situations.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.