Job Summary
Are you looking for something a bit different, a new challenge, a varied role?
Wathwood is an award‑winning Forensic Mental Health Hospital and prides itself on providing the highest quality of care, in a secure setting to our patients.
We have exciting opportunities here at Wathwood in our unique Medium Secure setting. Whether you are newly qualified and looking to take your first step on your career ladder, or fancy a new challenge, we have something to suit everyone.
We are seeking to recruit a Band 6 Social Worker to join our fantastic multi‑disciplinary teams within the hospital to provide assessment, risk management, care and treatment to aid recovery and further the patient journey.
Interviews for this vacancy will be held on the 13 January 2026.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate, experienced and highly motivated skilled professional social worker to join our teams, in a challenging but rewarding role, to make a difference to the lives of our patients.
About Us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.
We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.
We offer a variety of employee‑led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.
The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in‑house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.
The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net‑zero commitment.
Responsibilities
* Carry a caseload of patients and present essential reports in a timely fashion and to a high standard.
* Attend all relevant clinical meetings including MRTs, CPAs, Ward Rounds, 117 meetings, MAPPPs, and Manager Reviews.
* Work within the legislative framework and adhere to all Trust and Directorate Policies and Procedures.
* Engage and liaise effectively with patients, families/carers and external agencies.
* Lead on Child and Adult Safeguarding in the MDT.
* Oversee the Child Visiting Procedure and ensure supervision and contact visits between patients and children are conducted in accordance with Directorate/National procedures.
* Ensure that all necessary clinical (patient) and environmental (Health & Safety) risk assessments are carried out and management plans developed in liaison with the Social Work Team Manager where necessary.
* Adhere to all Social Work and MSU Standards.
* Provide a Social Work service to a defined patient caseload.
* Participate in regular managerial supervision with the Team Manager.
* Engage in clinical supervision as requested.
* Undertake other Social Work tasks as required by the Team Manager.
* Applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
* Applicants are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Person Specification
Physical Characteristics
* Ability to travel to and from work in wide geographical locations
* Ability to undertake all essential training
Further Training
* Awareness of professional boundaries and able to positively role model appropriate behaviour
* Detailed knowledge of current Social Work practice
* Detailed knowledge of all standards relevant to Social Work
Desirable Training
* Good understanding of Clinical Governance
* Post Qualifying Training
* Safeguarding Training
* Multi Agency working
Work Experience
* Extensive knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Code of Practice, Criminal Justice Legislation, Community Care Legislation and CPA, Risk Assessment and management methods
* Experience of carrying a caseload of Forensic/ Mental Health Patients
Desirable Experience
* Other experience in Social Care, Probation or Voluntary Sector Work in a secure setting
Aptitudes / Skills
* Good IT skills
* Effective Communication at all levels
* Risk Assessment and Management skills
* Effective organisation and prioritisation
* Writing focused analytical reports to deadlines
* Multi‑disciplinary teamwork
Desirable Aptitudes / Skills
* Ability to work with extreme histories of abuse or other behaviour
* Ability to effectively present information
Contractual Requirements
* Willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of the Organisation
Qualifications – Academic / Professional
* Professional qualifications in Social Work at Diploma level (e.g. Dip, DipSW, CQSW)
Dispositional Attributes
* Empathy
* Ability to work with conflict
* Effective working under pressure
Desirable Attributes
* Negotiation
* Assertiveness
* Working with some autonomy
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).
Job Location
Wathwood Hospital
Gipsy Green Lane
Wath on Dearne, ROTHERHAM
S63 7TQ
Job Details
* Posted: 05 December 2025
* Pay Scheme: Agenda for change
* Band: Band 6
* Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum (pro rata for part time)
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Part‑time
* Reference number: 186‑1421‑25‑FS
Employer Details
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Wathwood Hospital
Gipsy Green Lane
Wath on Dearne, ROTHERHAM
S63 7TQ
Website: https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
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