Social Worker

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity for the Position of Social Worker has become available in the North Hertfordshire Adult Community Mental Health Services Team.

This is an ideal opportunity for a new qualified Social Worker to join a fantastic Team based here in North Hertfordshire.

As a Social Worker, you will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, providing high quality social care services to adults of all ages experiencing mental ill-health. The core functions of the role will be to provide assessment, care planning and coordination of care from a social perspective to adults accessing the service.

You will deliver recovery-focused care and support to service users and their carers that is focused on the principles of choice, control, and independence, as well as ensuring safety.

You will actively address adversity and will support adults at risk of social inclusion and assist adults accessing support to deal with a range of adverse circumstances. You will actively champion equality and diversity and be expected to challenge discrimination in all its forms as part of your role.

You will hold a caseload which may comprise of adults experiencing a wide range of mental health and social care needs. You will ensure that you maintain constant reflection and development of your practice and will ensure your continuing professional development in line with the standards set out by the professional regulator, Social Work England.

Main duties of the job

1. To undertake assessments and reviews, for people who may present with a high risk, or those with significant interpersonal, social, legal and/or environmental complexities, ensuring people are assessed appropriately against social care eligibility criteria as defined by The Care Act 2014.
2. To offer direct support to service users and their carers, and to colleagues, through information and advice, to ensure that those who do not meet social care eligibility are appropriately signposted and supported.
3. To ensure that commissioned services allow choice to service users and carers and focus on people living in the community with appropriate support and access to universal services.
4. To undertake regular risk assessments and ensure that vulnerable people are kept safe.
5. To comply with both child and adult safeguarding practice in line with current policy, and take a role in adult safeguarding investigations, which may involve supporting the implementation of protection plans.
6. To undertake other tasks and duties which form part of the delegated social care responsibilities accepted by the Trust on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council.
7. To carry out any other duties as appropriately identified by your Line Manager.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care 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. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities

1. To be a champion of social care with an understanding of legislation and statutory guidance.
2. To undertake assessments and reviews, for people who may present with a high risk, or those with significant interpersonal, social, legal and/or environmental complexities, ensuring people are assessed appropriately against social care eligibility criteria as defined by The Care Act 2014.
3. To offer direct support to service users and their carers, and to colleagues, through information and advice, to ensure that those who do not meet social care eligibility are appropriately signposted and supported.
4. To ensure that appropriate health and social care services are commissioned with and on behalf of service users, including the duty to offer direct payments, and that processes are in place for service users to be charged by the local authority for the social care services they receive, if applicable.
5. To ensure that commissioned services allow choice to service users and carers and focus on people living in the community with appropriate support and access to universal services.
6. To undertake regular risk assessments and ensure that vulnerable people are kept safe.
7. To comply with both child and adult safeguarding practice in line with current policy, and take a role in adult safeguarding investigations, which may involve supporting the implementation of protection plans.
8. To commit to best practice when undertaking carer assessments, including identifying contingency plans, and provision of support.
9. To ensure the involvement of service users and their carers so that the Trust can learn from their experiences to make improvements to service delivery.
10. To ensure accurate computer records of all work undertaken are kept up to date.
11. To undertake your own post qualifying and other appropriate training to ensure high standards of practice and continuation of your registration with Social Work England.

For a more in-depth Person and Job Specification please read the attached before applying

Person Specification

Qualifications

• An appropriate Social Work Qualification
• Registration with Social Work England
• Education to Degree level
• Training in principles and application of outcomes, focussed assessments and personalisation.

Areas of Experience and Knowledge

• Knowledge of legislation, theory and policy in relation to relevant care group.
• Experience of undertaking assessments, focussed as personalisation, choice and control and care planning.
• Knowledge and understanding of personal budgets and direct payments
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working and ability to work collaboratively
• Experience of partnership working with Service Users and Carers, demonstrating dignity and respect.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Head Of Service North & East/South-East ACMHS

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum pro-rata