Specialist Social Worker – Infected Blood Psychological Service

Oxford Health NHS Trust; Oxford; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK seeks a part-time Specialist Social Worker to join their Infected Blood Psychological Service. This role involves managing a caseload, conducting psychosocial assessments, and providing critical support to individuals affected by infected blood. Candidates should have relevant social work qualifications and a commitment to empathetic care. The position offers opportunities for continuing professional development and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.

Benefits

Excellent opportunities for career progression

27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays

Competitive pension scheme

NHS Discount across various retailers

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience at identifying and assessing social needs of patients.
• Experience of working within a hospital/clinical setting.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload of patients and conduct psychosocial assessments.
• Provide specialist input for the Infected Blood Psychological Support Service.
• Plan, coordinate and evaluate the navigator service provided to individuals.

Skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Experience in social work within health services

Ability to work collaboratively across teams

Commitment to confidentiality

Strong leadership in adult social care

Education

BA (Hons) Social Work or Dip SW or CQSW

Current Social Work England registration

Job description

Specialist Social Worker – Infected Blood Psychological Service

Are you a compassionate, skilled professional passionate about supporting individuals through challenging journeys?

We are recruiting for a part-time Specialist Social Worker to join our new Infected Blood Psychological Service, a specialist team dedicated to providing expert emotional and practical support to those affected by infected blood. Please note this role is part-time working 30 hours per week.

This sensitive role involves guiding clients through their psychological and social care needs with empathy, respect, and understanding. You will work closely with individuals and families to help them access appropriate services, empower their choices, and support their wellbeing.

Key qualities we seek:

• Strong interpersonal skills with a sensitive, person‑centred approach
• Experience in social work within health or psychological services
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams
• Commitment to confidentiality, dignity, and respect for lived experiences.
• Strong leadership in adult social care or safeguarding.

This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a supportive, specialised environment. If you are motivated by empathy, advocacy, and helping people find hope and strength, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

Clinical and Clinical Governance

• To manage own caseload of patients.
• To carry out comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and identify their psychosocial needs (using evidence‑based tools or developing your own tools/pathways to do this as necessary).

Management and Leadership

• To contribute to the development of the IBPS, shaping policies, guidance and protocols.
• Provide supervision and mentorship to junior staff, students or volunteers when required.
• To contribute to the development and improvement of the IBPS through generating ideas and participating in projects, under supervision from more senior members of the team.

Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The post holder will provide specialist social worker input for beneficiaries of the Infected Blood Psychological Support Service (IBPS). The IBPS is one of several new services across England commissioned by NHS England following the recent Infected Blood Inquiry with the aim to support patients and their families infected/affected by contaminated blood products.

The service provides multidisciplinary care for those infected and affected by contaminated blood products by:

• Conducting outreach, psychological assessments and family interventions led by the social worker (post holder); and
• Providing psychological therapies by the psychologists

It collaborates closely with its Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), while maintaining a distinct identity. The post holder will be responsible for planning, coordinating and evaluating the navigator service provided to individuals accessing the IBPS. This will involve providing highly specialised social work, which includes psychosocial assessments and interventions, leading outreach programmes and supporting the development of the newly founded service. The post holder will play an integral part in providing a multidisciplinary approach to supporting the beneficiaries of the service and of Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre.

Key Relationships

• The IBPS core multidisciplinary team is comprised of Practitioner Psychologists and the Specialist Social Worker.
• Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre multidisciplinary team is comprised of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Practitioner Psychologist, Physiotherapist and Consultants.
• Beneficiaries of the IBPS.
• The national IBPS and its regional and local branches.
• Oxford Healths Safeguarding Service will provide professional supervision and peer support/ continuing professional development opportunities.
• Peer support will also be available with IBPS social workers from other branches and also with other Social Workers.
• Line management and clinical/caseload supervision will be provided by the Principal Clinical Psychologist for Haematology.

Person Specification

Knowledge Requirements

• Evidence and strengths based social work interventions relevant to the service
• Knowledge of key issues relating to developments in Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI) and implication on service provision.
• Expert knowledge relevant legislation: Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Expert knowledge in Mental Health Act 1983

Experience

• Experience at identifying and assessing the social needs of people living with long‑term conditions
• Experience of working with children, adults and their families.
• Experience of safeguarding children and adults at risk.
• Experience of working within a hospital/clinical setting.
• Experience of planning and delivering community engagement events.

Qualifications - Academic/Skills/Professional

• BA (Hons) Social Work, or Dip SW or CQSW with current Social Work England registration.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Evidence of training/ education in supporting long‑term health conditions.
• Best Interest Assessor Qualification.

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.

Associate Director of Social Work and Social Care

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum | pro rata