Social Worker
Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job overview
East London Forensic Intellectual and neurodevelopmental Disability service (FIND) are an exciting and dynamic service that supports people with Learning Disabilities and /or Autism that have or are in danger of coming into contact with the Criminal Justice System.It has an overarching aim of reducing the risk of offending or reoffending of adults with a diagnosis of Learning Disability and/ or Autism.
The team provides a range of support across North East London, including complex case management and joint work with and consultation to numerous partner agencies such as other areas of the ELFT Forensic Service, criminal justice partners and Community Learning Disability Services, and providing a substantial programme of training.The team also supports gatekeeping of admissions to the inpatient service at John Howard Centre Medium Secure Unit and offers in-reach to inpatients on the unit who are approaching discharge.
A strengths-based approach underpins work with service users and carers so that their individual assets can be optimised and positive life choices and opportunities can be enabled in partnership with individuals and the services around them.
Main duties of the job
Provide social work service to service users under the care of the FIND Team.
Undertake assessments.
Maintain contact with families and informal carers and undertake formal carers assessments in accord where appropriate.
Carry out statutory duties in relation to the safeguarding of adults at risk, including carrying out s42 Care Act enquiries.
Act as Social Supervisor for conditionally-discharged restricted patients in accordance with Ministry of Justice guidance.
Lead on enquiries regarding victim or community sensitivities, where clinically appropriate.
Refer cases to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPA).
Refer and consult with other public protection agencies.
Actively take part in the development of recall plan for each individual service user. Co-ordinate recall process under s42(3) Mental Health Act.
Contribute to the assessment of risk and development of risk management plans.
Working for our organisation
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Provide a comprehensive social work service to service users under the care of the FIND Team. This includes active contribution of the social care perspective to forensic risk assessment, risk management and care planning.
Undertake person-centered comprehensive assessments of need under the Care Act 2014 and identify appropriate resources for service users.
Maintain confidentiality in relation to all service users, including those with high media profile.
Maintain contact with families and informal carers and undertake formal Carers Assessments in accordance with the Care Act where appropriate.
Implement child protection legislation, safeguarding children policy and good practice guidance. To carry out statutory duties and local protocols in relation to the safeguarding of adults at risk, including carrying out s42 Care Act enquiries.
Act as Social Supervisor for conditionally-discharged restricted patients in accordance with Ministry of Justice guidance.
Prepare written and/or verbal reports for CPA review meetings and First-tier Tribunals as appropriate. To provide statutory reports as required by the Ministry of Justice. To offer considered recommendations.
Lead on enquiries regarding victim or community sensitivities, where clinically appropriate. This will include direct contact with victims or Victim Liaison Officers.
Ensure that relevant legislation is applied to promote patient care and the safety of the public.
Refer cases to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPA) in accordance with directorate policy and to present cases at this and other multi-agency forums.
Refer and consult with other public protection agencies.
Actively take part in the development of recall plan for each individual service user. Co-ordinate recall process under s42(3) Mental Health Act.
Contribute to the assessment of risk and development of risk management plans.
Person specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential criteria- CQSW, DipSW or equivalent social work qualification.
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience
Experience
Essential criteria- Substantial post-qualifying experience of working with people with severe and enduring mental health problems
- Experience of working with mentally disordered offenders.
- Experience of working in an ethnically diverse community.
- Familiarity with practising in an ethnically diverse community and working with interpreters.
- Experience of advancement of human rights and promotion of social justice and economic wellbeing
- Familiarity with criminal justice system and roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders.
- Experience of using standard computing software in a work setting (e.g. Windows, Excel, PowerPoint).
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria- Skilled in undertaking assessments including Care Act Assessments, needs assessements and assessments under the Care Programme Approach
- Able to use judgement and authority to intervene with individuals, families and communities to promote independence, provide support and prevent harm, neglect and abuse
- Ability to work from a social care perspective with service users who have committed serious criminal offences and who may be experiencing severe and/or enduring mental health problems, including those with a diagnosed learning disability or personality disorder.
- Extensive knowledge of theory, legislation and good practice guidance in relation to mental health care, particularly those aspects which relate specifically to mentally disordered offenders.
- An applied knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understanding of best interest principles, Deprivation of Liberty safeguards assessments, etc.
- Able to identify and behave As a Professional Social Worker, committed To professional development
Making Things Better
Quality Improvement is a key part of our work to improve our services and refine how we do things. We have a global reputation for our quality improvement work and we don’t stand still! So we offer a fantastic opportunity for our staff to learn, lead and contribute towards improving our services.
We launched our Five Year Strategy in April 2018, which identified four main strategic outcomes to improve: population health outcomes, experience of care, staff experience and improve value. This complements the NHS Long Term Strategy and sets out our direction of travel.
Our Community
We provide a wide range of community health and mental health inpatient services to children, young people, adults of working age, and older adults in The City of London, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Bedfordshire and Luton. We also provide psychological therapy services to the London Borough of Richmond, and provide Forensic services to the whole of North East London.We provide services in urban and rural settings, sometimes in our inpatient units, but mostly in the community close to where people live. Integrated care is key in making the best use of resources and providing effective care.
Aiming High
We were rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC in 2016, were proud to be rated ‘Outstanding’ again in 2018 and continue to be rate 'Outstanding' in 2021.. We were named in the HSJ’s Top 10 best places to work in healthcare and were voted Provider Trust of the Year in 2018.
Staff and Service Users United
We strive to ensure that staff feel valued by the Trust and as they are truly pivotal in delivering better outcomes for our patients and service users. Our aspiration is to help to make ELFT the best place to work. This Trust is clinician-led and provides the highest possible level of clinical expertise throughout its services.We pride ourselves on our service user involvement. A service user will be on your assessment centre and interview panel if you are invited to meet us.
We especially welcome people with lived experience of health difficulties, with insight and understanding of different backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles in our population as we believe that this will equip staff to deliver a high standard of care to our service users and patients.
Diversity
ELFT Is committed to being a diverse organisation and our workforce is reflective of the population and communities we serve. We believe that having colleagues with a range of backgrounds and life experiences enriches and adds value to the outcomes we have set out to achieve.Having partnered and endorsed by organisations who are representative and experts in various areas of equality and diversity, we can ensure we are meeting the pre-set standards all the way from recruitment stage throughout the career journey of our employees by being accessible, having fair inclusive practices and a host of staff networks to support, nurture and celebrate our valued staff in the workplace.
Other reasons to apply
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern.
As part of the relocation scheme we presently have, the Trust could support you with offering up to £10,000 for removal and associated expenses. This is subject to change and terms and conditions apply.
What Next?
If you like the sound of ELFT, don’t waste a moment. We sometimes close adverts early if there is a high response, so apply now!
As part of our recruitment process we may be required to share information you provide on the application form with NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) and/or other organisations for the purpose of the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of fraud or any other unlawful activity affecting the NHS.We also use third party providers to check and verify your qualifications who may be contacting you on our behalf to verify the same..
If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please consider that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made.Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly.
Find us online at www.elft.nhs.uk | Find us on Facebook | Follow us on @NHS_ELFT