Band 6 Specialist Community Forensic Worker - Bristol

Job overview

The Specialist Community Forensic Team is a service that provides support and intervention to service users transitioning from secure care to the community.

We also offer specialist advice and guidance to mental health and other relevant services.

The successful applicant will care coordinate a small caseload with support from an expert MDT. You will also have the opportunity to train and carry out the role of social supervisor and to jointly work with recovery teams.

You will also be able to develop your skills and expertise in providing specialist advice and consultation to other professionals.

This is an exciting post in an innovative developing service and we aim to develop a highly skilled team. There are training opportunities in a range of therapeutic skills and clinical tools, including DBT, TIC, HCR- 20 and Dundrum.

We are looking to recruit a dynamic, motivated and experienced mental health professional. You will need to have a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in mental Health

We are also committed to the development of a Co-production model with our service users and carers. Therefore they will be involved in the recruitment process.

To find out more about the SCFT and this role please do contact us and speak to a member of the team.

Main duties of the job

The role is a fixed term post as a specialist community forensic worker in a Multidisciplinary Team providing a community forensic service to service users and carers, supporting transfer from secure care to the community. You would also be required to support Community teams and service users in reducing the risk of re-admission to secure care.

The role will involve care coordination and social supervision of service users who are or have been in secure services. You will carry out specialist needs and risk assessments, provide intervention and coordinate care to support recovery goals.

You will be required to provide clinical reports inclusive of tribunal and MOJ.

The role involves working as part of a strong MDT, building relationships and linking with inpatient, community services, carers and a range of organisations

There is a focus on providing appropriate training to develop skills in individuals and the service. You will receive regular management and clinical supervision along with group supervision.

Working for our organisation

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care. We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To undertake the full range of activities required to deliver ongoing comprehensive mental health assessment for service users with severe and enduring mental health needs living in the community and in a range of settings.

Please refer to the attached job description for further information.

This post is open to newly qualified social workers. In line with AWP trust policy all newly qualified social workers (NQSW) will be recruited initially at Band 5 level, regardless of advertised role banding. All NQSW’s are expected to successfully complete their ASYE within 2 years of employment, unless there are exceptional circumstances in which case it may be extended for a further 2 years.

If you have been appointed to an advertised Band 6 role this will be an automatic progression, following confirmation of your successful ASYE completion. If you have been appointed to a Band 5 post you will then be eligible to apply for a subsequent Band 6 vacancy upon successful ASYE completion.

Person specification

Professional registration

• Registration
• Relevant qualification - RMN, OT, SW
• Minimum 2 years MH experience

• Community or forensic Mental health experience
• Experience/ training in drug and alcohol services
• Relevant training e.g. DBT, social supervision

This includes people with a variety of disabilities and neurodivergent conditions (for example autism, ADHD, sensory, physical and learning disabilities).

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service users.

Click here to view our applicant guidance

Please apply to join us, we would love to hear from you. Any personal details you supply to us are kept safe in line with the General Data Protection Regulations.

Adverts normally close for application a few minutes before midnight on the closing date and we will let you know if we are offering you an interview by email via our recruitment system ‘TRAC’. We contact all applicants within 4 weeks after the closing date, so please check your emails regularly once you have submitted your application; you are welcome to contact us, via the TRAC system, if you have any queries about your application.

Please note the use of AI is monitored and if you have used it in your application you are required to declare this.