Job Summary
Looking for a new and exciting challenge?
Bedford Older People’s Community Mental Health team are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Social Worker to join our forward-thinking and dynamic team.As a post holder, you will be working collaboratively with secondary mental health services, local authorities, Integrated Care Board, primary care services, housing associations as well as the voluntary and private sector all contributing to provide a person centered and recovery focused model of care.
You will have access to various career growth opportunities such as;
- Training and development opportunities specific to social work including ASYE, AMHP training and PE training.
- Psychosocial intervention training
- Regular supervision with experienced social work professionals
- Regular social work forums and seminars.
We understand that this may be your first job in mental health services, however we are committed in supporting our staff with their wellbeing, training and career development. Continuous professional support is given throughout your career with us and unique skills and achievements are highly recognised and celebrated Trust wide
We welcome applicants from all sections of the community to ensure our workforce is representative of the population we serve.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will hold a caseload and work within the principles of the agreed model of care for the service as laid down in the operational policy. The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner within an integrated Multi-disciplinary team. This will involve the assessment planning, implementation and evaluation of the care provided and will liaise with all agencies involved with the client.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for:
Ensuring that the values outlined in the NHS Constitution are adhered to daily and any matters of concern are raised with the relevant Line Manager or through the necessary processes within the Trust. Responsible for delivering a compassionate, dignified and respectful service to patients at all times.
Continually delivering and maintaining high standards for a defined caseload as agreed with your Line Manager.
Leadership, supervision and support to junior staff.
Ensuring national targets and standards are achieved.
Building trust and developing relationships to ensure service user involvement.
Demonstrating a professional manner in all work carried out.
Maintaining accurate and timely records.
Ensuring equality and diversity values underpin the day to day working of the practice area.
Continuous professional development.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- An appropriate social work qualification
- Registration with Social Work England
- Education to degree level
Desirable
- Master’s degree or equivalent post-qualifying training
- Approved Mental Health Professional training and qualification (or prepared to undertake training within a year of appointment to role)
- Relevant post-qualifying training for social workers
- Other relevant post-qualification training (e.g. CBT, family therapy)
- Best Interest Assessor training
Experience
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance, theory, and policy in relation to adult and children’s social care.
- Experience of undertaking assessment focused on personalisation, choice and control, and care planning.
- Understanding of and experience of use of personal budgets and direct payments.
- Evidence of multidisciplinary and collaborative working.
- Evidence of partnership working with service users and carers, demonstrating dignity and respect, particularly in very challenging situations
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, including service users and carers, other professionals and colleagues, members of other organisations and locally communities – verbally and in writing.
- Evidence of successful management of challenging meetings.
- Ability to manage highly sensitive information
- Experience of using electronic record systems and ability to produce accurate, appropriate, and timely reports.
- Demonstrable ability to working sensitively with diverse needs and environments
Desirable
- Ability to analyse service user and carer information.
- Experience of undertaking small scale audits and surveys
- Understanding of basic research methods
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice
Other
Essential
- Ability to visit and attend meetings at a variety of locations and environments.
- Experience of using a computer (PC literate to ECDL standard).
- Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving
- Ability to meet deadlines and respond to crises as appropriate
- Flexibility and ability to respond to a variety of tasks and to prioritise own workload
- Ability to manage others and convey information which may be contentious sensitively so that it achieves required improvements and outcomes.
- Ability to deal with distressing and sometimes aggressive behaviour of service users and carers.
Desirable
- Experience of working in an integrated health and social care environment.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 12 January 2025
