An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within our secure services, as a Band 7 Senior Social Worker. The successful applicant will be workingacross our two low secure male units, Robin Pinto Unit and Wood Lea Clinic in Luton and Bedford respectfully.
This post is a permanent full time post, and is 37.5 hours per week. Monday-Friday.
This post provides Social Care input to the service users in our two low-secure wards. You will work as part of the wider MDT on the ward.
You will have the support of the Forensic Social Care Team, which is based in Essex, and the Social Work Lead for Specialist Services.
You will work closely with the service users and their families/carers.
The successful candidate will undertake statutory work such as reports for MH review Tribunals and managers' hearings. Work closely with otheragencies and services within both the organisation and external, such as the Ministry of Justice, local authorities, probation, and other teamswithin the trust.
You will undertake any safeguarding issues that arise on the wards and be the main point of advice.
You will prepare and present paperwork to the relevant funding panels to secure accommodation or other services that require funding to enablethe discharge of service users when necessary
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Open, Compassionate and Empowering. In return, EPUT can offer you arange of benefits and development including;
• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer, the Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options andyou are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity for a flexibleworking request from the first day of your employment.
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trusthospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effectivecare at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but theoption is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed-term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Please note that this role outline serves to provide an illustrative example of the duties and responsibilities you may be expected to undertake
during the course of your normal duties. It is not an exhaustive list and you will therefore be required to undertake other responsibilities and duties
that are considered to be commensurate with the band.
Core Clinical Support
• Assess, manage, care plan, support, and review care needs in line with policy, procedures, and legislation, including the provision of
aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act.
• Use strength-based approaches to support service users, focusing on them achieving positive outcomes to enhance their well-being,
look at prevention, and increase their independence in line with the Care Act (2014).
• Provide a clear picture of how a person’s independence can be promoted and maximised. Promote conversations to draw on the
support around each person, their networks, local community and personal resources and support with delivering statutory
responsibilities under the Care Act (2014).
• Undertake risk assessments and develop risk management plans. Able to support positive risk taking.
• To ensure that service users open to the team are provided with robust social care assessments by all care co-ordinators and that Care
Act assessments are carried out where an eligible assessed need is identified and personal budget plans are put in place.
• Act as a lead for the team in areas of social care for example supporting Care Act assessments and related social care funding
processes, knowledge around the MHA, MCA, Safeguarding and developing knowledge and skills locally.
• You will support adults to be safeguarded in line with the Care Act (2014), manage risk, and meet eligible need.
• Practice as an AMHP as required, responding effectively to referrals and enquiries. When operating as an AMHP you must be able to
work in accordance with the relevant legislation, (including the Mental Health Act 1983, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of
Liberty Safeguards 2009 and related Codes, the Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010 and local policy. You must also fully
comply with the Mental Health AMHP Regulations 2008.
• To lead and be responsible for the coordination of the Mental Health Act Assessment liaising closely with other professionals and
involving others and informing effective understanding of practice/regulations within the multidisciplinary team.
• To ensure where appropriate that service users are referred for suitable follow-up care.
• You will be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive information in a hostile or highly emotive atmosphere; highly complex,
sensitive, contentious information/ in a hostile, antagonistic, or highly emotive atmosphere
• You will be effective at communicating highly sensitive issues eg child protection, vulnerable adults, and guardianship issues. You will
be able to communicate information in an emotive atmosphere; deals with child protection, vulnerable adults, mental health issues,
disclosure of sensitive information, bereavement, explaining legislation in emotive situations
• You will be able to demonstrate specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and relevant practical experience in order to assess and
provide care and support for service users with complex needs, their families and carers, including the assessment and management of
risk.
• You will be able to work autonomously within agreed policies and regulations.
• To understand and utilise Health and Social Care commissioned services, demonstrating an understanding of eligibility criteria for socialcare services, and working in collaboration with nursing and other health care colleagues to ensure the appropriate and timelypresentation of cases to the panel, and the robust reviewing of placements to ensure effective and efficient use of resources, andrecovery based delivery of services.
• Establish therapeutic relationships with service users, their families, and carers. Maintain a client-centered approach balanced with theneed to manage the risk of harm or deterioration.
• Contribute to the multi-agency team working, and participate in team meetings. Act as link worker as required advising otherprofessionals relating to specific areas of expertise. To advise and support the team on a range of social work issues as required.
• To support the development of social work and act as a Practice Assessor for social work students.
• To support the development of the AMHP service and act as an AMHP Practice Assessor for AMHP students.
• Enable individual’s families and carers to address issues which affect their health and social well-being.
• To liaise with staff in a variety of settings, ensuring that teams are able to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of people withmental health difficulties in their care.
• To proactively work with patients, carers and ward staff to ensure access to the most appropriate care and to facilitate discharge as appropriate.
• Statutory responsibility for the assessment of carer’s (including young carer’s) needs and the formulation of carers care plan inconjunction with the carer’s support workers.
• Prepare and present clear assessments and other reports as necessary to set out the basis of decisions made in respect of serviceusers. Maintain all records to a high standard in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and procedures. Provide information,written assessments, reports and statements to support other service professionals, managers and agencies in making decisions
related to care. Provide specialist reports to Mental Health Review Tribunals and Home Office for service users subject to the MentalHealth Act
This advert closes on Sunday 2 Feb 2025