Social Worker (Mental Health)

Hampshire County Council; Basingstoke; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Assured Employee Assistance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is seeking a qualified Social Worker (Mental Health) to join the Mental Health and Substance Misuse Team in Basingstoke. The role is hybrid, based at Dame Mary Fagan House, with a 37-hour week and a permanent contract.

You will engage in person-centred, strengths-based practice and contribute to service transformation and collaboration with health partners. Experience in UK statutory settings and SWE registration are required; Newly Qualified Social Workers are not

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England (SWE).
• Experience in a UK-based statutory setting.
• Ability to apply a strengths-based approach.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of individuals' needs and available support.
• Manage a complex caseload and provide supervision for Case Workers and Senior Case Workers with practice advice on complex cases.
• Triages urgent cases and safeguarding referrals, making informed decisions.
• Liaise with Health to facilitate hospital discharges.
• Hold forensic cases and work closely with the Ministry of Justice.

Skills

SWE registration

UK statutory setting

Strengths-based practice

Care coordination

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

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Social Worker (Mental Health)

Job Reference: HCC624426
Salary Range: £41,985 - £49,565 per annum, inclusive of £3,000 per annum Market Supplement for Senior Social Workers
Work Location: Dame Mary Fagan House, Basingstoke (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 28 October 2026
Early applications are encouraged as we may close the advert ahead of the stated closing date

The Role:

Joining our Mental Health and Substance Misuse Team as a qualified and experienced Social Worker, you’ll bring creativity, compassion and a strong commitment to person centred, strengths based practice. You’ll be part of a supportive team that values collaboration, shared learning and continuous professional growth, with plenty of opportunities for training and development.

Our Mental Health Service is entering an exciting period of transformation, reshaping how we work and adopting innovative, needs led approaches to improve outcomes for the people we support. You’ll play an active role in this evolving landscape – contributing to new ways of working, strengthening collaboration with health partners, and helping us enhance our engagement with individuals who are hardest to reach. It’s a great opportunity to be part of a service that’s moving forward and to help shape positive change through your day to day practice.

What you’ll do:

• Conducting comprehensive assessments of individuals' needs and available support.
• Managing a complex caseload whilst providing supervision for Case Workers and Senior Case Workers and practice advice on complex cases.
• Participating in duty to triage urgent cases as well as triaging safeguarding referrals and making informed decisions.
• Liaising with colleagues in Health to facilitate hospital discharges.
• Holding forensic cases and working closely with the Ministry of Justice.

What we’re looking for:

• Social Work qualification and registered with Social Work England (SWE).Due to the needs of the team, we’re unable to consider Newly Qualified Social Workers for this post.
• Experience working in a UK-based statutory setting.
• A sound understanding of how to apply a strengths-based approach.
• Understanding of social work issues, legal frameworks and social services’ statutory duties.
• Commitment to demonstrating our values and behaviours, showing compassion, empathy and respect.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Social Worker role,team and our values.The section‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements anddemonstrate our values, in your application.

• Make a difference:Watch this shortvideo to find out more about the important work our Mental Health Teams do.
• Career growth:View our career pathways for more information about opportunities within our Adults Social Work service.
• Excellent Practice Validation:Progress to a Senior Social Worker role through our Excellent Practice Validation programme. Our Senior Social Workers are paid a market supplement of £3,000 per annum.
• AMHP pathway: We’ll support you to complete your AMHP training and give you the opportunity to complete AMHP work alongside your Social Work duties. When you’ve completed your AMHP training , you’ll be eligible for a market supplement of up to £2,500 per annum.
• Professional development:Continuous learning and supportive supervision.
• Work-life balance:Enjoy a fulfilling career with a good balance between work and home life.
• Employee support:Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
• Competitive benefits package: Including generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here .
  

Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.
Other job titles you may be searching for may include: Welfare Worker, Social Services, Case Manager, Social Work Practitioner.

Travel Requirements:

You will be required to travel to various locations within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight or other local authority, and it is essential that you have a current drivers’ licence and access to a reliable vehicle on a regular basis.

Values Based Recruitment:

We recruit for attitudes and values in Adults’ Health and Care. We invite you to evidence how you demonstrate our 5 core values in your application. For more information on our values, please refer to the candidate pack.

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.