Social Worker - REQ001267

Job title: Mental Health Unit / Community Forensic Mental Health Social Work Team - Social Worker (PO1 or PO3)
Contract Type: Permanent, 37 hours per week
Location: Newsam Centre, Seacroft Hospital York Rd, Seacroft, Leeds LS14 6WB

Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.

Community Forensic Social Work Team, Senior Social worker or Social worker. As a community Forensic Social Worker you will be based at the Newsam Centre, Seacroft Hospital working closely with colleagues from other disciplines to assess needs and risks of forensic service users and their families and carers and provide a range of Social Work interventions. We are looking for someone with the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people and service providers while maintaining professional independence and strong Social Work values in coordinating social care services for service users. You will be working with people to develop innovative packages of support to promote their independence and high levels of collaborative risk management, developing opportunities in the community making a real difference to the lives of service users and providing Social Supervision and Ministry of Justice reports for Conditionally Discharged patients.

The Community Forensic Social Work Team provides specialist mental health services for people with complex needs associated with mental illness and learning disability in a range of settings from community to secure hospitals, who have a history of offending or challenging behavioural needs associated with significant risk. The role requires: A comprehensive understanding of the Care Act, needs assessment and complex care planning. An understanding of risk assessments and risk management skills. Multi-disciplinary working often within health settings with a sound social care perspective. A clear understanding of safeguarding and Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements, MAPPA. Working with inpatients in secure and acute settings and service users in the community and an understanding of Health & Social Care and Criminal Justice legislation, skills in report writing in respect to Managers hearings and MHRT hearings.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Holly McKenna-Hylton Team Manager on 07562439336 or email Holly.McKennaHylton@leeds.gov.uk. Please submit your expression of interest as to why you would like to work in the Community Mental Health Forensic Team along with your skills and abilities via the applications portal by the (2 weeks from date of advert posting). No more than one sheet A4.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Adults’ barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying.â€¯To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description - PO1

Job Purpose Under the general direction of a Team Manager, and with support from Senior Social Workers, provide a high quality and comprehensive social work service to adults, carers and community in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.

The post holder must at all times carry out responsibilities within the City Council’s Policies and Procedures, in particular the Council Policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and also within the Social Work England Professional Standards

Core Responsibilities

To carry a caseload and undertake assessment of service users and carer needs using a person centred approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.

On the basis of assessed needs and risks and, using a person centred approach, devise and implement service and support plans which correspond to the assessed needs of service users, their families and carers in line with procedures.

Responsible for analysing information to support the ongoing needs of service users, their families and carers.

To monitor and contribute to the review of plans relating to the assessed needs of service users, their families and carers in accordance with directorate procedures.

To use a Safeguarding framework to investigate and manage risks where individuals have experienced or are likely to experience significant harm.

Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on an analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.

Maintain and update case notes and other records, write reports as required.

Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the limits of data protection.

Be compliant with relevant governance, policy and procedures.

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure an integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of service users.

Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.

Be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures.

Responsible for planning and negotiating a range of appropriate services and interventions that meet the needs of service users within delegated levels of responsibility.

Identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures, seeking guidance if required.

Appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums and convene and chair multi agency meetings in line with procedures.

Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.

To work to and within the prescribed national Professional Capabilities Framework.

Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.

To participate in training and development activities that ensures up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.

To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Directorate policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Health and Safety policy and procedures.

To actively promote and support Leeds City Council’s and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity.

To undertake any other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the grade and purpose of the job as may be determined by the directorate.

Job Overview:

To work under the homefirst agenda to support with safe and timely discharges from numerous bedbases, working in partnership with health colleagues

To include: undertake cases, demonstrating an ability to adapt the approach from first principles to deal with more complex or unusual cases, assessing and managing risks appropriately. Maintain and update case notes and other records, write reports as required; if required, give evidence in court in relation to care or other proceedings. Contribute to planning and developing of future services and policies and promote innovative ways of developing support to service users, and supervise students.

Responsibilities

Undertake Community Care assessments. Investigate complaints of alleged neglect and/or abuse of adults. Undertake safeguarding investigations in accordance with legislative requirements and Multi-agency Safeguarding procedures. Undertake risk assessments, identify needs and options.
Develop and maintain effective relationships with service users, their families and carers: provide advice and support: promote independence and early intervention, as necessary; help resolve conflict, where appropriate.
Under clear supervision, contribute to the enhanced screening of new referrals and people already in receipt of services.
Work with adults, carers and communities to help them make informed choices and decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
Where necessary work in the court arena with appropriate support to obtain and implement court order.
Construct value for money care packages; commission a range of services for individuals, groups and communities designed to minimise risk and improve quality of life for service users and their carers.
Contribute to the development of practice and services through participation in workshops, and consultations.
Manage an allocated caseload of service users, regularly monitor, review and evaluate changes in service user needs and ensure that all services contribute effectively to the support plan and remain an effective use of resources.
Work with relevant agencies, including the convening and chairing of meetings.
Work to be undertaken with supervision and guidance from the Team Manager. This may include elements of co-working more challenging/complex casework alongside more experienced workers.
Carry out the Practice Educator Level 1 role.
Participate in office duty on a rota basis, responding to new referrals, assessing urgency of requests and with advice and support, if appropriate, implementing actions to meet immediate needs.
With appropriate supervision and guidance and following a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience undertake Mental Capacity Act Assessments as set out in statute, document and evidence assessments as required within statutorily defined time frames and make recommendations for authorisation.
Where required, following a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience to undertake social work duties with regard to the Mental Health Act 2007, including assessment and admissions, where authorised for this duty.
Participate in the Approved Mental Health Practitioner (AMHP) rota where professionally qualified.

Specific responsibilities for social workers – Hospital and system flow

To work under the Homefirst agenda to support with safe and timely discharges from numerous bed bases, working in partnership with health colleagues

Specific Responsibilities for Social Workers - Transitions Team

To demonstrate an ability to understand how to prepare a young person for adulthood, utilising a creative approach to maximise their independence skills.
To be able to form relationships with young people and their families, to manage change and work alongside other professionals.

Specific Responsibilities for Social Workers – Mental Health

Work with people aged 18+ with Mental Health issues.

Specific Responsibilities for Social Workers – Emergency Duty Team

To provide an out of hours city-wide high quality emergency social work service for all client groups in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices within Adult Social Care and Children’s services and within statutory guidelines.
To undertake assessments under the Mental Health Act 1983 and provide responses in relation to children where they are referred as in need of protection.
To fully participate in the EDT Duty Rota.
Working within safeguarding procedures, to make enquiries and manage risks where children have experienced or are likely to experience significant harm.
To provide crisis responses to carers who are in need of an urgent provision to alleviate a situation.

Qualifications Appropriate professional qualification (BSc, BA, MA, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent). Registration with Social Work England upon commencement in post and maintain registration. The post holder should have achieved or commenced the Practice Educator Level 1 qualification after 2 years post qualification but within an agreed timescale of starting in this post.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise and evaluate work with users.
Ability to plan, prioritise and time manage own workload.
Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately and concisely with a range of partners and services users, carers and colleagues.
Able to engage individuals, families, carers and workers from other agencies.
Able to identify appropriate social work interventions in order to promote positive change.
Ability to devise and implement service and support plans.
Ability to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person centred approach.
Ability to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure.
Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology.
Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
Ability to make proactive use of Supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
Ability to develop safeguarding investigative skills.
Ability to chair routine or less complex meetings.
Appropriate social work professional qualification (BSc ,BA, MA, DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent).
Knowledge of the range of theories and models for Social Work intervention with individuals, families, groups and communities.
Knowledge off relevant legislation appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds.
Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on service users and families e.g. drugs, alcohol domestic violence.
Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet and Email.
Knowledge of current, trends, policies, legislation and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting.
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers as appropriate.
Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
Report Writing and Communications Skills.
Completion of NQSW programme or the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
Approved Mental Health Professional or willing to undertake appropriate training if required on completion of 2 years post qualification experience.
Best Interest Assessor Qualified on completion of 2 years post qualification experience if required.
Experience of implementing a person centred/child focused approach.
Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
Experience of advocacy and user involvement.
Experience of using initiative and a commitment to developing services.
Use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning.
Producing written records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function.
Application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments.
Experience of using supervision effectively.
Minimum of 12 months post qualification experience of working in a statutory setting.
Experience of devising, implementing and reviewing support plans.
Identify and take account of the significance of diversity on the lives of people and show application of this understanding in practice.
Registration with Social Work England upon commencement in post and maintain yearly registration.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Knowledge of working with a wide range of user groups.

Job Description - PO3

Job Purpose Under the general direction of a Team Manager to provide a high quality and comprehensive social work service adults, carers and community in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.

The post holder must at all times carry out his/her responsibilities within the City Council’s Policies and Procedures, in particular the Council Policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and also within the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Practice.

This is an experienced Social Worker role with specific responsibilities for managing a caseload of higher levels of challenge and complexity, which will include assessment and management of risk and to provide casework advice, support and guidance to other team members.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds.

Core Responsibilities

To carry a caseload of complex cases and undertake assessment of service users and carer needs using a person centred approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.

Provide advice, support and guidance on casework to less experienced team members.

Maintain and update case notes and other records, write reports as required; give evidence in court in relation to care or other proceedings.

Assist in the planning and developing of future services and policies and promote innovative ways of developing support to service users.

Supervise students and offer support to trainees, other team members and/or volunteers.

Manage and monitor a workload of complex and diverse cases within the parameters of agreed policies and practices together with professional guidance and support from Team Managers to safeguard and promote the welfare of individuals, families and their carers. Very highly complex cases may be co-worked within the line management framework.

Responsible for analysing information to support the ongoing needs of service users, their families and carers.

To monitor and contribute to the review of plans relating to the assessed needs of service users, their families and carers in accordance with directorate procedures.

To use a Safeguarding framework to investigate and manage risks where individuals have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.

Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.

Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.

Be compliant with relevant governance, policy and procedures.

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of service users.

Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.

Be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures. Maintain an awareness of related theories and legislation. Disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.