Experienced Mental Health Social Workers - Ealing Council Teams
Location: London Borough of Ealing (borough‑wide; co‑located with West London NHS Trust)
Service: Mental Health Social Care (Adults) - multiple teams
Rate: £36 per hour
Contract: Locum/Agency
Driving: Desirable but not essential
Registration: Social Work England (SWE)
The Opportunity
We are seeking experienced Mental Health Social Workers to join Ealing's Mental Health Social Care service. The teams are responsible under the Care Act 2014 for assessing and reviewing adults with primary mental health needs, developing person‑centred, strengths‑based support plans, and working within a robust multi‑disciplinary framework alongside West London NHS Trust.
What you'll do
Complete Care Act assessments, proportionate reviews, eligibility decisions, and Section 117 aftercare planning.
Undertake capacity assessments and Best Interests decisions under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (including DoLS / Schedule 21A Court of Protection challenges).
Prepare Social Circumstances Reports for Mental Health Tribunals and act as Social Supervisor for conditionally discharged s37/41 MHA patients.
Lead and coordinate safeguarding enquiries (Section 42) as Safeguarding Enquiry Officer, managing risk and achieving the person's desired outcomes with the Safeguarding Adults Manager.
Contribute to the duty rota: triage referrals, screen safeguarding concerns, and respond to queries from service users, carers, and professionals.
Produce high‑quality court, tribunal, and welfare reports within team timescales.
Embed strengths‑based, recovery‑focused, trauma‑informed practice that keeps people at the centre of decision‑making.
About you
Qualified social worker with current SWE registration and substantial post‑qualifying adult mental health experience.
Strong legal literacy across the Care Act (2014), MCA (2005), MHA 1983 (as amended 2007), and Human Rights Act (1998).
Demonstrable professional curiosity, risk assessment, and analysis skills; confident working to deadlines and timescales.
Skilled in multi‑agency partnership working (CMHT/AMHP services/primary care/voluntary sector).
Excellent written and verbal communication; able to evidence outcomes and defensible decision‑making in complex cases.
Why join
Impactful statutory practice across diverse communities.
Multi‑disciplinary collaboration with NHS partners.
Borough‑wide exposure to complex mental health presentations, forensic pathways, safeguarding, and tribunal work.
Supportive, planned team structures with clear supervision and peer support.How to apply: Send your CV highlighting Care Act, MCA/Best Interests, MHA, safeguarding enquiries, tribunal/social supervision, and relevant Court of Protection experience.
Keywords: Mental Health Social Worker jobs London, Ealing Council, adults mental health, CMHT, community mental health, statutory social work, Care Act assessments, Section 117 aftercare, safeguarding enquiries, Section 42, Mental Capacity Act 2005, best interests, DoLS, Schedule 21A, Court of Protection, Mental Health Act (Apply online only), Human Rights Act 1998, Social Circumstances Report, Social Supervisor, forensic mental health, s37/41, recovery‑focused, strengths‑based, person‑centred, multi‑disciplinary, West London NHS Trust, duty triage, risk assessment, complex casework, tribunal reports, social work vacancies London.
For more information on this role or for a discussion about Social Work opportunities across England and Wales please contact Gemma at Caritas Recruitment - (url removed) / (phone number removed)
Caritas Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy