Social Work Apprentice

1 month ago

Staplehurst, United Kingdom NELFT NHS Foundation Trust Full time

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to train as a Social Worker within the innovative Crisis Assessment and Triage Team with some experience also extending to the Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital and Intensive Home, services dedicated to placing the lived experiences and mental well-being of young people at the heart of its work.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for people who are passionate about mental health and committed to supporting and empowering young people and their families/carers.

This three-year apprenticeship, with two posts available, combines hands-on experience with academic training through the University of Kent’s highly regarded Social Work programme, ranked second in The Times Good University Guide 2025.

Working for our organisation

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Starting at Band 3, you will progress through each band annually, reaching Band 6 upon qualification.

We encourage applicants without traditional qualifications, as we highly value practical work experience.

Upon successful completion, you will become a fully qualified Social Worker within the Crisis, Assessment and Triage Team.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Maths GCSE C/4 or equivalent English GCSE C/4 or equivalent Functional Skills Level 3 or equivalent Demonstrates the ability to study at an undergraduate level

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working in a mental health or social care setting Experience of working with children and young people

Desirable criteria

Experience of understanding of Safeguarding Children and other relevant legislation and policies Evidence of Multi Agency Working

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Awareness of NHS priorities

Desirable criteria

Awareness of key legislation/policy relating to children and mental health

Skills

Essential criteria

Effective communication Able to work effectively under pressure Ability to manage own time and plan times activities, including building in traveltime Good computer literacy Flexible and adaptable to needs to the patients

Desirable criteria

Able to work independently as a member of a multi-disciplinary team Ability to evidence understanding and importance of safeguarding and child protection

Other

Essential criteria

Must be a car driver with a valid driving license or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance Must have an immigration status that will cover the entire 3 years of the undergraduate degree

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

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 a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.

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