Job overview
West London NHS Trust is one of the largest providers of mental health care in the country. We are also a leading national provider of secure and specialist mental healthcare. We currently provide community based forensic care to 8 North West London Boroughs and we are seeking new staff to join our teams. Our Forensic Services were recently rated as Outstanding by the CQC.
We have been chosen by NHS England to pioneer a new approach to support forensic service users in the community. The Specialist Community Forensic Team will work to transition service users out of secure settings, and support their ongoing recovery in the community. This can improve quality of life, reduce inequality, and give hope to people who may have been detained for many years.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for applicants for a Forensic Social Worker/ Social Supervisor committed to working collaboratively with individuals and providers in the community to find positive and safe ways of working with people who use these services. In particular: -
You will work as part of the ground-breaking team that will improve the lives of forensic mental health service users and their carers. This is a rare chance to be part of shaping a new service, providing opportunities to develop your skills and your career. The applicant must have a qualification in social work and be registered with Social Work England.
At WLNHST we don’t just accept difference we actively celebrate it and support it for the benefit of our staff, our patients and our community. We are proud to be part of an equal opportunity work place.
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
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Qualification in Social Work with current Social Work England Registration
Desirable criteria
2. Post Qualifying training and development
Experience
Essential criteria
3. The applicant must have a minimum of two years post graduate Social Work experience
4. The applicant must have two years post qualification experience in a mental health setting
5. The applicant must have experience of autonomous working as a social worker
Desirable criteria
6. Experience of community forensic working practises
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
7. Demonstrate an ability to undertake assessments of risk using specific risk assessment tools
8. Demonstrate an ability to formulate implement and evaluate programmes of care for those individuals in the Community Forensic Service and those being referred
9. Demonstrate an ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with clients who have a range of disorders that will include personality disorder dual diagnosis
10. Demonstrate knowledge of actuarial and clinical risk assessment and how this might be applied to the management of clients
11. Demonstrate knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act and its application to Mentally Disordered Offenders
12. Demonstrate knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and its implication for the management of Forensic clients
13. Demonstrate an ability to teach
14. Demonstrate an ability to work with a range of organisations including Courts, Police and Probation, ministry of Justice
15. Demonstrate good communication skills, especially listening, empathy, facilitation, persuasion, motivation, negotiation, education, and reassurance
16. Demonstrate ability to lead projects and development of services
17. Demonstrate the ability to understand the role of the Community Forensic Service
18. Demonstrate ability for cross cultural working ensuring whatever the cultural background of clients they are treated holistically
19. Demonstrate an ability to manage stress and competing demands prioritising appropriately
20. Demonstrate skills associated with good documentation
21. An ability to work as part of a team
22. Ability to work in an autonomous manner
Desirable criteria
23. Demonstrate ability to supervise staff
24. Demonstrate ability to lead on projects and audits
25. Demonstrate a good understanding of CPA and its application
26. Demonstrate an ability to communicate complex issues to users and carers