Social Worker (Mental Health)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent Practice Validation

AMHP pathway

Career growth

Professional development

Work-life balance

Employee support

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is seeking a qualified Social Worker in the Mental Health team, based at Totton Hub with hybrid working. You will join a supportive, values-driven team focused on strengths-based practice and continuous development.

We offer regular training, supervision, and a clear pathway to senior roles via Excellent Practice Validation, with market supplements for senior positions. A robust benefits package and flexible working support work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification and SWE registration.
• Understanding of a strengths-based approach.
• Knowledge of social work issues, legal frameworks and statutory duties.
• Commitment to demonstrating values and behaviours, showing compassion, empathy and respect.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of individuals' needs and available support.
• Manage a complex caseload while providing supervision for Case Workers and Senior Case Workers and offer practice advice on complex cases.
• Participate in duty to triage urgent cases and safeguarding referrals and make informed decisions.
• Liaise with Health colleagues to facilitate hospital discharges.
• Hold forensic cases and work closely with the Ministry of Justice.

Skills

Strengths-based approach

Team collaboration

Empathy & compassion

Education

Social Work qualification & SWE registration

Job description

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Social Worker (Mental Health)

Job Reference: HCC624919
Salary Range: £41,985 - £49,565 per annum (inclusive of £3,000 per annum market supplement for Senior Social Workers)
Work Location: Totton Hub, Totton (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 30September 2026
Interview Date: w/c 12 October 2026

The Role:

Joining our Mental Health and Substance Misuse Team as a qualified and experienced Social Worker, you’ll be innovative, person-centred and committed to working in a strengths-based way.

You’ll enjoy working in a team that thrives on supporting each other, sharing experiences and learnings to encourage continuous improvement. We have varied experience and backgrounds across the team, with regular opportunities for training and ongoing development.

What you’ll be doing:

• 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.
• 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 informationhere .

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 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 re-assignment, 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.