Advanced Social Work Practitioner

Job summary

Are you an experienced social worker ready for that next step in your career? Do you have an interest in developing high quality social work services for inpatients with a learning disability?

At Brooklands Hospital we are committed to providing the best standard of care and experience for individuals whilst in an inpatient setting, supporting them to gain skills to reach their potential and maintain a good quality of life.

This position is for an advanced social worker who will be responsible for providing a high quality specialist Social Work service for adults and children with and/or a Learning Disability or Autism on the Brooklands Hospital site, respecting the rights of individuals to live as independently as possible with as much control over their lives as possible. You will hold a specialist caseload and provide specialist assessment and social care interventions to inpatients in support of the hospital's multi-disciplinary teams.

Our services include:

Child and Adolescents Learning Disabilities

Adult Assessment and Treatment service.

Individual Packages of Care service- a service for individuals with Learning Disabilities in small individualised packages that support and work alongside a move to commit providers.

Male Medium Secure(Forensic) Learning Disabilities

Male and Female Low Secure (Forensic) Learning Disabilities

Male Low Secure (Forensic) Autism.

Full time and part time applicants will be considered.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for providing a high quality specialist Social Work service for adults and children with and/or a Learning Disability or Autism on the Brooklands Hospital site respecting the rights of individuals to live as independently as possible with as much control over their lives as possible. To hold a specialist caseload. To provide specialist assessment and social care interventions to inpatients in support of the unit's multi-disciplinary team. To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of social work practice within the area served. To implement policies and propose service developments and policy changes within own area of practice as agreed with the General Manger and site Matrons. To contribute to teaching, research, and cross specialty initiatives relevant to needs of the Brooklands Hospital patient group and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust.

About us

At Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), we deliver a wide range of physical, mental health, learning disability and autism services, and are proud to serve communities across Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond.

We put 'people at our heart'; this ethos is at the centre of everything we do and how we do it. We care for our staff and colleagues as much as they care for others and offer a wide range of benefits and development opportunities.

These include:

generous annual leave entitlement which increases during your time with us excellent learning and development opportunities, including apprenticeship frameworks, distance learning, internal training, coaching and mentoring, and much more salary sacrifice schemes for lease car/ vehicle, Cycle to Work, home and electronics, gym membership and more discounts with a range of retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues through our Employee Assistance Programme and NHS discount schemes wellbeing support, including an in-house counselling service, external helpline and more staff networks and support group

We're always on the lookout for people who share our passion for improving the lives and wellbeing of people in our community, as well as our values of compassion, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To promote the rights of individuals receiving a service to be treated with dignity and respect, and to promote their involvement in all aspects of the service they receive valuing choice and promoting independence where ever possible.

To provide a comprehensive social work service including contribution to a specialist social work assessment (Care act 2014) to all patients as required within the unit and development of S117 Aftercare planning. This includes active contribution of the social care perspective to forensic risk assessment and care planning and liaising with area of origin to co-ordinate assessments, reviews and funding packages.

To contribute towards the organisation and facilitation of annual Care and Treatment Reviews, ensuring representation from all members of the MDT and ensuring all identified actions are completed.

To liaise with the local authority to ensure S42 Safeguarding Investigations are completed.

To provide leadership across the service regarding awareness of Safeguarding and Mental Capacity issues, and liaise with the relevant statutory agencies as required.

To contribute to the Operational management of the Unit including attendance at all relevant meetings, and contribution to meet performance indicators (eg CQUINS, Audit)

To contribute a forensic social work assessment of patients being considered for admission to the unit. This may involve travel on a national basis.

To maintain a caseload of more complex specialist casework as agreed with unit MDTs.

To liaise effectively with statutory and non-statutory bodies in formulating comprehensive assessments of need and in identifying appropriate resources for service users to include liaising with services from area of origin.

To negotiate complex packages of care with relevant statutory agencies and to support putting these care packages into effect applying to relevant funding authorities as appropriate

In accordance with local policy and good practice guidance, to manage issues of confidentiality in relation to all patients, including those with high media profile.

To ensure a high standard of record keeping.

Where indicated to prepare full and regular written reports for clinical team review meetings and CPA review meetings and to attend such meetings where indicated on all in-patients.

To liaise and identify partner agencies to compete Reports for Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers Hearings and where required to prepare comprehensive statutory reports and to attend and give evidence at such meetings. To offer considered recommendations to these bodies.

To undertake Incident Investigations and Complaints in line with Trust policy

To provide written reports for Crown or Magistrates Courts and to attend and give verbal evidence as required. To offer considered recommendations to these bodies.

To provide statutory reports as required by the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Justice and to be proactive in initiating contact with the MoJ as necessary regarding individual clients. To offer considered recommendations.

To be proactive in regularly meeting and reviewing all allocated patients.

To initiate contact with families and informal carers and undertake formal Carers Assessments in accordance with statutory legislation (where applicable).

To undertake in enquiries regarding victim/community sensitivities, where clinically appropriate, this may include direct contact with victims or their representatives.

To ensure that relevant legislation is applied to promote patient care and the safety of the public. In particular, as AMHPs, to apply the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 & 2007 (including provisions under Part III of the act) and duties in relation to Community Treatment Orders.

If a qualified AMHP, to practice in line with the current MHA Code of Practice and in line with local AMHP policies.

To practice according to the principles of the Care Programme Approach/Single Assessment Process.

To 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.

To uphold child protection legislation, safeguarding children policy and good practice guidance, particularly in relation to child visitors to the unit and patient discharge and leave of absence arrangements.

To uphold local protocols in relation to Adult Safeguarding. To act as an Appropriate Adult under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act if required.

To take personal responsibility for maintaining current knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, case law, research and publications. To ensure that the requirements for professional registration are fully met and registration continuously maintained.

To provide activity data as required by the Directorate

As appropriate, to work with members of the clinical team in developing and implementing audit and research tools.

Within delegated authority, to undertake staff supervision/consultation or other delegated duties.

To act at all times in accord with the policies of (CWPT) and the local policies and procedures of the Directorate.

To undertake to the development and provision of therapeutic activity/group work within the unit, appropriate to skill and competency level.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

A recognised Social Work qualification, CSS, CQSW, DipSW, etc. Evidence of current professional development Current Professional Social Work registration (HCPC)

Experience

Essential

Substantial experience of working as a qualified social worker Evidence of working within a multi-disciplinary team Experience of working under the terms of the Mental Health Acts 1983 & 2007

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