Job overview
We are looking for a dedicated and motivated Social Worker or Occupational Therapist to join ELPS. You will be a senior member of a growing and dynamic service where learning, professional development and a supportive environment are promoted. Sound clinical knowledge and experience of the crisis and acute mental health pathway is essential to the role.
The team has a mix of Consultant Liaison Psychiatrists, Trainee doctors, Foundation Year doctors, Liaison Psychiatry Practitioners and Team Administrator. We are keen to expand the skills in the team and to open this role to a social worker. ELPS has office spaces in Ealing Hospital and provides a service to the acute trust primarily. Excellent working relationships have already been developed with both clinicians and managers of EH.
The role has clinical, leadership and managerial elements to it. Critical thinking and motivation for innovation and development are essential, as you will be involved in patient care and experience, team development and service improvement.
We pride ourselves on providing a standard of care that we would be happy for our loved ones and ourselves to receive. If this is your motivation as a practitioner, you will fit well in the team and we will nurture your caring attitude.Wellbeing of team members and team cohesion are high on our agenda as they are essential to providing quality care and improving patient and carer experience.
Main duties of the job
ELPS is commissioned to see patients aged 16 and above. In this role, you will carry out biopsychosocial assessments for patients attending UTC or ED, or those admitted to medical wards with mental health needs. Presentations may include emotional distress, self-harm, psychiatric crisis, psychosomatic symptoms, or psychological issues linked to physical health conditions.
You will represent ELPS within Ealing Hospital, providing specialist support to referring clinicians and wider clinical teams. Using a person‑centred approach, you will support patients’ treatment, recovery and wellbeing, making autonomous decisions based on complex clinical presentations. You will promote carer and family involvement and work closely with health and social care partners to coordinate safe and effective discharge plans.
The role requires strong organisational and multitasking skills, with the ability to prioritise in a fast‑paced setting and manage workload efficiently.
You will provide formal and informal training to ELPS and hospital colleagues to support high‑quality care. You will also offer clinical and managerial supervision to junior staff. You will be encouraged to contribute ideas that support ongoing service improvement and will take responsibility for projects relating to service development. Dedicated management time will be provided to support these responsibilities and help develop your leadership skills.
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
1. Specialist knowledge of mental health disorders as well as their relationship to physical disorders
2. Assessment and treatment of self-harm
3. Risk assessment/management and crisis intervention skills
4. Use of psychosocial assessment methods
5. Knowledge of counselling skills / cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventions
6. Ability to assess clinical situations quickly and use initiative
7. Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act (2005)
8. Clear understanding of the Mental Health Act (1983), and National Policy
9. Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively
10. Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options
11. Management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
12. Clear understanding of the process of supervision
Desirable criteria
13. Ability to interpret research and apply to practice
14. Computer literate
15. Skills in CBT or family work
16. Report writing skills
Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria
17. Professional Qualification as RMN/RN (Mental Health) or Registered Occupational Therapist or Registered Social Worker with professional registration (HCPC)
18. Mentorship In Practice (Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice) or equivalent teaching qualification
19. Assisted Year In Practice (ASYE) if social work qualified
Desirable criteria
20. Educated to degree or diploma level nursing
21. Other courses/training relevant to Liaison Psychiatry e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focused Therapy etc
22. RGN qualified
23. Other qualification in practice teaching or supervision of staff.
24. Evidence of recent professional development
Experience
Essential criteria
25. Demonstrable post qualifying experience in the mental health crisis pathway with evidence of relevant experience at Band 6
26. Experience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
27. Experience of mentoring students through placements
28. Experience of working with people who have experienced serious ongoing mental health problems
29. Experience of assessing and managing crisis with those with a severe mental illness
30. Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
31. Experience of teaching/ training in a formal or informal setting
Desirable criteria
32. Clinical experience of working in Liaison Psychiatry Service(s)
33. Experience of implementing and monitoring standards of care
34. Other relevant post registration experience
35. Audit and research skills
36. Experience of managing outpatient clinics for mental health
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
37. Ability to manage own time effectively through robust prioritising of own and others workloads
38. Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence
39. Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence
40. Exercise initiative, flexibility, tact and self- awareness
41. Ability to meet deadlines
42. Team/self-management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
43. Be aware of the limitations in own competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership
44. Act as a positive role model, dynamic, motivated caring and supportive
45. Ability to work closely and form excellent working relationships with a wide range of people
Other
Essential criteria
46. Higher level communication skills, both written and oral
47. Commitment to Equal Opportunities
48. Ability to be reflective and accept constructive criticism to further develop oneself
49. Be able to work flexibly if required
50. Sickness (or attendance) record that is acceptable to the Trust
Desirable criteria
51. Lived experience of mental health
52. Willing to use peer and group supervision creatively