Social Worker

Job summary

The Community Forensic Team is seeking a dedicated Social Worker to work with adults who have significant mental health needs and who may have offended or present a risk to others. The primary focus of the role is to promote recovery, reduce risk, support social inclusion, and contribute to public safety through effective assessment, intervention, and care coordination.

The post holder will work collaboratively with service users to enhance their wellbeing, independence, and safe integration within the community. They will undertake comprehensive social care assessments, develop person-centred care plans, and support individuals to access appropriate services and opportunities.

The Social Worker will work closely with families, carers, stakeholders, and members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to assess and manage risk, safeguard individuals and others, uphold human rights, and support safe community living. The role also involves partnership working with health, social care, housing, criminal justice, and voluntary sector agencies to ensure coordinated and effective care delivery.

Main duties of the job

The overall purpose of the role is to promote recovery, support safe community living, reduce risk, protect the public, and improve outcomes for adults with complex mental health and forensic needs through effective social work practice and multi-agency collaboration.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission. Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities

Risk Assessment and Risk Management. Contribute to forensic risk formulations, risk-management plans, relapse-prevention plans and contingency arrangements. Monitor changes in mental state, behaviour or social circumstances and escalate emerging concerns appropriately. Care Planning and Case Management Manage an allocated caseload, where this forms part of the local service model.

Complete social care assessments and contribute to person-centred care plans and regular reviews. Maintain accurate, timely records and complete agreed statutory and professional actions. Recovery and Community Reintegration Support safe transitions from secure hospitals, inpatient services or criminal justice pathways into the community.

Help service users access suitable accommodation, welfare benefits, education, employment and meaningful activity. Promote independence, social inclusion, engagement with treatment, coping skills and relapse prevention. Multi-Agency and Multidisciplinary Working Work collaboratively with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, support staff and other social workers.

Liaise with probation, police, MAPPA, housing, social care, voluntary organisations and community mental health services. Mental Health Act and Legal Responsibilities Apply relevant mental health, mental capacity, safeguarding and social care legislation in practice. Act as Social Supervisor for conditionally discharged patients where required and appropriately appointed.

Attend Section 117 aftercare meetings, multidisciplinary reviews, tribunals and professional meetings, and contribute to reports for the Ministry of Justice or other statutory bodies when required. Safeguarding, Advocacy and Family Work Promote the service users rights, dignity, strengths and participation in care planning while considering public safety.

Advocate for access to appropriate services and involve families and carers constructively where appropriate. Professional Practice Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and high-quality documentation. Participate in supervision, reflective practice, training, service development and quality improvement.

Person Specification

Qualifications · Essential

An appropriate social work qualification Registration with Social Work England Education to degree level Approved Mental Health Professional training and qualification (or prepared to undertake training within a year of appointment to role)

Desirable

Master's degree or equivalent post-qualifying training Relevant post-qualifying training for social workers Other relevant post-qualification training (e.g. CBT, family therapy) Best Interest Assessor training

Experience · Essential

Significant post-qualification experience with demonstrable evidence of excellent practice at advanced level. Extensive knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance, theory and policy in relation to adult and children's social care Experience of undertaking assessment focused personalisation, choice and control, and care planning Understanding of and experience of use of personal budgets and direct payments Experience of supervising and mentoring others Evidence of multidisciplinary and collaborative working Evidence of partnership working with service users and carers, demonstrating dignity and respect, particularly in very challenging situations.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).