Job summary
The Greater Manchester Specialist Support Team works with autistic individuals and those with a learning disability who are at imminent risk of admission to hospital due to significant risk to self or others and individuals who may be at risk of placement breakdown or contact with the criminal justice system.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Social Worker within the Greater Manchester Specialist Support Team. We are looking to recruit a dynamic and skilled Social Worker into a band 6 Senior Social work post, based in Eccles Manchester. We are keen to consider applicants from different practice areas of social work with transferable skills and will support professional development in practice.
Main duties of the job
The Specialist Support Team provides a service to patients, their families and carers working in a collaborative approach. The post holder will provide consultancy on issues relating to the social care needs of patients, some of whom have forensic risk profiles, providing skilled advice and guidance to staffboth for the Specialist Support Team and in the wider social care community within the requirements of legislation.
This role seeks to contribute towards the following service aims:
* Provide increased treatment options in the community.
* Contribute towards a reduction in behaviour leading to contact with the criminal justice system.
* Contribute towards reduced numbers of autistic people and those with a learning disability admitted to hospital settings.
* Contribute towards an increase in capacity to provide effective support for autistic people and those with Learning Disabilities who offend or display challenging behaviour in community settings through the delivery of training, collaborative case management, shared risk management and Crisis Intervention.
* Contribute towards a reduction in the number of safety incidents reported.
* Improve peoples experience of co-ordinated discharge planning.
* Reduced length of stay when autistic people and those with learning disabilities are admitted to hospital or secure services.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Details
Date posted
20 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
350-SC7769496
Job locations
2 City Approach, Floor 7
Albert Street
Eccles
M30 0BL
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be an active member of a multi-disciplinary team and will bring the social care perspective to service planning meetings and individualised care planning. You will provide a professional social work service to patients, their families and carers and routinely liaise with external stakeholders and members of the multi-disciplinary team.
The successful candidate will have the ability to deliver an efficient and high quality social care service, have well developed assessment and analytical skills alongside effective interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.
You must have good knowledge of the key relevant Health & Social Care and Criminal Justice legislation as well as a good knowledge around safeguarding frameworks. You should have well developed report writing skills as routinely you will be required to complete reports and assessments within this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be an active member of a multi-disciplinary team and will bring the social care perspective to service planning meetings and individualised care planning. You will provide a professional social work service to patients, their families and carers and routinely liaise with external stakeholders and members of the multi-disciplinary team.
The successful candidate will have the ability to deliver an efficient and high quality social care service, have well developed assessment and analytical skills alongside effective interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.
You must have good knowledge of the key relevant Health & Social Care and Criminal Justice legislation as well as a good knowledge around safeguarding frameworks. You should have well developed report writing skills as routinely you will be required to complete reports and assessments within this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Degree in Social Work or DipSW or CQSW.
* Current Social Work England registration.
* Post-qualifying training (formally or work based) in relevant areas of social work and/or mental health, learning disability or forensics.
* Evidence of significant continuing professional and personal development.
Desirable
* Approved Mental Health Professional Qualification
* Qualifications relating to the Mental Capacity Act, e.g., Best Interest Assessor
* Practice Educator qualification 1 & 2 (PEPS).
* Masters Degree (MSW) or Postgraduate (PGDipSW)
Knowledge / Experience
Essential
* Suitable post qualifying experience as a Social Worker
* Good working knowledge of legislative guidance and policy e.g., Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Human Rights Act and criminal justice frameworks e.g., MAPPA, Victim Liaison, MARAC and Carers' Rights.
* Knowledge and application of professional standards, codes of conduct and Social Work England standards of proficiency and Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).
* Good working understanding of Information Governance, Data Protection and confidentiality.
* Ability to assess and manage complex cases in a multidisciplinary team setting.
* Skilled at assessing and implementing risk management frameworks
* Skilled at assessing and promoting the involvement of people in developing their own care/ support plans using a strengths and asset-based approach.
* Experience of working with service users with mental disorders and/or learning disabilities.
* Experience of multidisciplinary team working and promoting social work/social care.
* Experience of presenting reports in formal setting, e.g., Courts, Mental Health Tribunals, Safeguarding Strategy.
* Experience in working with families, Experience of child and adult safeguarding
* Knowledge and experience of Models of risk assessment and risk factors and management, Financing of community care
* Knowledge and application of Housing and welfare provision, roles, responsibilities of other agencies, Learning from enquiries' reports, Role of Mental Health Review Tribunals, Victims
Desirable
* Experience of working with forensic service users.
* Experience of supervising others.
Values
Essential
* Continuous Improvement
* Accountability
* Respectfulness
* Enthusiasm
* Support
* High professional standards
* Responsive to service users
* Engaging leadership style
* Strong customer service belief
* Transparency and honesty
* Change oriented
Skills
Essential
* To be able to practice safely and effectively within scope of practice.
* To be able to practice within the legal and ethical boundaries of Social Work profession.
* Understand the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to Social Work profession
* Be able to draw on appropriate knowledge and skills to inform practice.
* An ability to manage time, prioritise work and meet deadlines.
* To be able to practice as an autonomous professional and part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Ability to apply social work practice in the framework of a non medical model.
* To be able to build compassionate and effective relationships
* Skilled in Complex Risk Assessment & Complex Risk Management skills
* Recording and preparing assessment and Mental Health Review Tribunal reports
* A demonstrated understanding of Equality and Human Rights
* Ability to travel nationally at short notice to complete assessments and visit families.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Degree in Social Work or DipSW or CQSW.
* Current Social Work England registration.
* Post-qualifying training (formally or work based) in relevant areas of social work and/or mental health, learning disability or forensics.
* Evidence of significant continuing professional and personal development.
Desirable
* Approved Mental Health Professional Qualification
* Qualifications relating to the Mental Capacity Act, e.g., Best Interest Assessor
* Practice Educator qualification 1 & 2 (PEPS).
* Masters Degree (MSW) or Postgraduate (PGDipSW)
Knowledge / Experience
Essential
* Suitable post qualifying experience as a Social Worker
* Good working knowledge of legislative guidance and policy e.g., Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Human Rights Act and criminal justice frameworks e.g., MAPPA, Victim Liaison, MARAC and Carers' Rights.
* Knowledge and application of professional standards, codes of conduct and Social Work England standards of proficiency and Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).
* Good working understanding of Information Governance, Data Protection and confidentiality.
* Ability to assess and manage complex cases in a multidisciplinary team setting.
* Skilled at assessing and implementing risk management frameworks
* Skilled at assessing and promoting the involvement of people in developing their own care/ support plans using a strengths and asset-based approach.
* Experience of working with service users with mental disorders and/or learning disabilities.
* Experience of multidisciplinary team working and promoting social work/social care.
* Experience of presenting reports in formal setting, e.g., Courts, Mental Health Tribunals, Safeguarding Strategy.
* Experience in working with families, Experience of child and adult safeguarding
* Knowledge and experience of Models of risk assessment and risk factors and management, Financing of community care
* Knowledge and application of Housing and welfare provision, roles, responsibilities of other agencies, Learning from enquiries' reports, Role of Mental Health Review Tribunals, Victims
Desirable
* Experience of working with forensic service users.
* Experience of supervising others.
Values
Essential
* Continuous Improvement
* Accountability
* Respectfulness
* Enthusiasm
* Support
* High professional standards
* Responsive to service users
* Engaging leadership style
* Strong customer service belief
* Transparency and honesty
* Change oriented
Skills
Essential
* To be able to practice safely and effectively within scope of practice.
* To be able to practice within the legal and ethical boundaries of Social Work profession.
* Understand the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to Social Work profession
* Be able to draw on appropriate knowledge and skills to inform practice.
* An ability to manage time, prioritise work and meet deadlines.
* To be able to practice as an autonomous professional and part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Ability to apply social work practice in the framework of a non medical model.
* To be able to build compassionate and effective relationships
* Skilled in Complex Risk Assessment & Complex Risk Management skills
* Recording and preparing assessment and Mental Health Review Tribunal reports
* A demonstrated understanding of Equality and Human Rights
* Ability to travel nationally at short notice to complete assessments and visit families.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address
2 City Approach, Floor 7
Albert Street
Eccles
M30 0BL
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
-----------------------------------
Employer details
Employer name
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address
2 City Approach, Floor 7
Albert Street
Eccles
M30 0BL
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
-----------------------------------