Overview
How you'll make a difference: As a Senior Practitioner in an integrated Mental Health Team, you will improve the quality of services provided to adults of working age in the community. You will have a pivotal role in ensuring performance and quality standards across the Recovery Team are met and delivered to vulnerable adults in our community.
Responsibilities
* Reporting to the Team Manager within Avon and Wiltshire Partnership (AWP) Trust, you will take a proactive role in the day-to-day management of the team, including screening and allocating referrals, providing advice and support to staff and members of the public.
* You will supervise social workers in line with the council's supervision policy. In addition, you may undertake student supervision for social work students and assist newly qualified social workers with their ASYE course.
* Maintain and promote effective partnerships with relevant agencies including housing, in-patient units, the courts, supported accommodation and the police to achieve best outcomes for service users. This may involve assisting in developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures.
* Support staff with managing complex cases, considering risk, safeguarding, mental capacity and DOLS as required. You may also hold a case load to ensure skills are current and to support running the team.
* Have experience in completing assessments under the Care Act and support health and social care colleagues in the completion of these assessments to ensure compliance with this legislation. Prepare social circumstances reports for the Mental Health Review Tribunal and attend tribunal hearings as required.
* Ensure effective prioritisation and allocation of work, including managing waiting lists. Ordinarily, you would undertake Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) training within a reasonable timeframe of employment, and on qualification participate on the AMHP rota.
* Consider internal 12-month secondment opportunities; you should first seek your line manager's permission before applying.
* This role is hybrid, predominantly office- or community-based, with occasional days working from home.
* Travel throughout the authority and surrounding area is required; you must have a full valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or other appropriate means of travel. You may be required to travel to other parts of the country to complete reviews.
* Business insurance will need to be added to your policy. Mileage expenses can be claimed.
* An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required as part of employment for this role.
* Interviews anticipated week commencing 22/09/2025.
Benefits and Team
* We value staff as individuals and invest in their careers, with a strong training and development offer to support long-term impact at work.
* The team ethos is strong; managers know staff well, enabling manageable caseloads and effective supervision to support decision-making for the people you work with.
* We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, ensuring staff have right skills and support to respond to potential abuse or neglect.
* Benefits include generous annual leave (pro rata), wellbeing support, and access to staff discounts (eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure).
* We value diversity and select, promote and develop individuals on merit and ability.
organisational context
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We are building and shaping communities and working with the most vulnerable to help them achieve what they want in life. We are investing in our schools to help every child and young person reach their full potential.
Qualifications and Experience
* Essential: a relevant professional qualification in social work and registration with Social Work England (SWE).
* Post-qualifying experience in a social care setting with experience handling complex cases; ideally in social work with adults of working age.
* Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development, knowledge of current legislation and practice in social care, with ability to assess and manage risk.
* Detailed understanding and experience of Mental Capacity Act and Care Act assessments, capable of tutoring others in these assessments.
* Understanding of S117 aftercare eligibility.
* Experience in providing supervision to social care workers and promoting social care values within a primarily medical model of mental illness.
Notes
We are an Equal Opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. For more information about the full job description, please contact the council recruitment team.
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