Band 6 Social Worker - Eating Disorder Service
The closing date is 13 January 2026
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Social Worker to join us in delivering community eating disorder care within Hertfordshire.
Office location is based in Rosanne House, Welwyn Garden City but the team covers the whole county of Hertfordshire so there will be a responsibility to travel to other bases and locations throughout the county.
Main duties of the job
All Social Workers must be registered with Social Work England.
As a Social Worker in the Community Eating Disorder Service, you will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, providing high quality social care services to adults of all ages experiencing eating disorder or dual diagnosis. The core functions of the role will be to provide assessment, care planning and coordination of care from a social perspective to adults accessing the service. You will deliver recovery-focused care and support to service users and their carers that is focused on the principles of choice, control, and independence, as well as ensuring safety.
You will hold a caseload which will comprise of adults with a moderate to severe eating disorder and with social care needs. You will ensure that you maintain constant reflection on development of your practice and will ensure your continuing professional development in line with the standards set out by the professional regulator, Social Work England.
You will support on duty by triaging referrals, complete initial assessments and support with managing allocated task within the team. You should be prepared to undertake the training required to undertake learn about eating disorder and how this affects service users that are under the service.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
With a workforce of around 3,500 people and an annual income of some £330million this year, the Trust provides integrated health and social care services through a network of community and inpatient settings, serving diverse communities across Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Norfolk. As a university NHS foundation trust, HPFT continues to develop strong links with the University of Hertfordshire, providing excellent learning and development opportunities, as well as strengthening our clinical research capability.
Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT following our CQC rating of Outstanding awarded to us in April 2019.
Job responsibilities
To be a champion of social care with a comprehensive understanding of legislation and statutory guidance.
To take a lead in the promotion of adult safeguarding practice and undertake safeguarding enquires and contribute to the provision of care plans that protect both adults and children from abuse.
To undertake comprehensive assessments and reviews, for people who may present with a high risk, or those with significant interpersonal, social, legal and/or environmental complexities, ensuring people are assessed appropriately against social care eligibility criteria as defined by The Care Act 2014.
To offer direct support to service users and their carers, and to colleagues, through information and advice, to ensure that those who do not meet social care eligibility are appropriately signposted and supported.
To ensure that appropriate health and social care services are commissioned with and on behalf of service users, including the duty to offer direct payments, and that processes are in place for service users to be charged by the local authority for the social care services they receive, if applicable.
To ensure that commissioned services allow choice to service users and carers and focus on people living in the community with appropriate support and access to universal services.
To undertake regular risk assessments and ensure that vulnerable people are kept safe.
To undertake carer assessments, including identifying contingency plans, and provision of support.
To be skilled in partnership working and identify, develop, and facilitate a wide range of recovery-focused community services, ensuring that colleagues within the locality are also aware of developments and best practice.
To ensure the involvement of service users and their carers to that the Trust can learn from their experiences to make improvements to service delivery.
To ensure accurate computer records of all work undertaken are kept up to date.
To undertake your own post qualifying and other appropriate training to ensure high standards of practice and continuation of your registration with Social Work England.
To provide both management and reflective supervision to newly qualified social workers and unregistered social care staff.
To support newly qualified social workers through the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), with opportunities to train as an ASYE assessor.
To undertake other tasks and duties which form part of the delegated social care responsibilities accepted by the Trust on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council.
To adhere to Trust policies and procedures.
To undertake additional training as required.
To carry out any other duties as appropriately identified by your line manager.
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
* An appropriate professional social work qualification
* Registration with Social Work England
* Training in principles and application of outcomes focussed assessments and personalization
* Relevant post-qualifying training for social workers
* Training and experience in Safeguarding
* Approved Mental Health Professional/Best Interests Assessment Training
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
* Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience
* Knowledge of legislation, theory and policy in relation to relevant care group
* Experience of undertaking assessments, focussed as personalisation, choice and control, and care planning
* Understanding and experience of personal budgets and direct payments
* Experience of multidisciplinary working and ability to work collaboratively
* Experience of partnership working with service users and carers, demonstrating dignity and respect
* Experience of work as Approved Mental Health Professional and/or Best Interests Assessor
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
* Excellent ability to communication with a wide range of stakeholders including service users and carers, other professional colleagues, members of other organisations and local communities, verbally and in writing
* Ability to manage highly sensitive information
* Experience of using electronic recording systems and ability to produce accurate, appropriate and timely reports
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
* Ability to analyse service user and carer information
* Experience of undertaking small scale audits and surveys
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.
Address
£40,617 to £48,778 a year pro rata (5% fringe HCAS included)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
367-SS-9636-B
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