Job Title
Deputy Lead Social Worker
Location
Berkshire Thatcham
Salary
£48,000 - £50,000 per annum
Contract Type
Permanent, Full Time
Sponsorship
Sponsorship is not available for this role
Role Overview
A specialist mental health provider is seeking an experienced Deputy Lead Social Worker to join a multidisciplinary team within a secure and rehabilitation setting. This is a senior, leadership-focused role supporting the delivery of high-quality social work practice, safeguarding excellence, and service user recovery.
The successful candidate will provide operational and clinical leadership to the social work team, deputising for the Lead Social Worker and playing a key role in quality assurance, safeguarding strategy, and professional development across the service.
Key Responsibilities
Support and lead the social work team on adult and child safeguarding matters
Deputise for the Lead Social Worker in quality assurance and governance meetings
Deliver and oversee safeguarding induction and update training across the service
Lead on non-medical Mental Capacity Act matters and best interest decision-making
Provide high-quality supervision and appraisal to junior and senior social workers
Manage and support a complex caseload of service users with mental health needs
Complete assessments, CPA reports, Mental Health Tribunals and Managers' Hearings
Liaise with external agencies to fulfil statutory duties, including MAPPA, Local Authorities, CMHTs, Police and Probation
Support carers and families of detained service users
Promote recovery-focused practice and empower service users to engage with care planning
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Recognised qualification in Social Work
Registration with Social Work England
Strong working knowledge of relevant mental health, safeguarding and social care legislation
Minimum of 4 years' post-qualification experience in a similar environment (mental health, forensic, secure or complex care setting)
Demonstrable experience of leading or supervising social work teams
Excellent communication, leadership and multidisciplinary working skills
Ability to manage complex casework and service-level responsibilities
What's on Offer
Salary of £48,000 - £50,000 per annum
33 days annual leave (including bank holidays), plus your birthday off
Option to purchase additional annual leave
Structured career development and leadership training opportunities
Access to a comprehensive rewards and wellbeing platform
Wellbeing initiatives supporting work-life balance
Access to Blue Light Card discounts
Life assurance
Financial wellbeing support and access to earned wages
24/7 GP service and second medical opinion
Enhanced maternity package
Pension contribution
Free or subsidised meals
Free onsite or local parking
About the Service
You will be based within a specialist mental health service that includes medium secure, low secure and rehabilitation units. The service provides a seamless internal care pathway, supporting individuals with complex mental health needs, personality disorders and histories of offending or placement breakdowns.
The multidisciplinary team delivers personalised assessment and treatment programmes, focusing on recovery, rehabilitation and long-term independence.
About the Organisation
The organisation is a leading national provider of specialist health and social care services across England and Wales, delivering care across mental health, neurological services, learning disabilities, autism, children and education settings. With a large network of services, the organisation offers genuine career progression within a stable and values-led environment.
Safer Recruitment
The organisation is committed to safer recruitment practices. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks and robust safeguarding procedures. The employer is a Disability Confident organisation and is committed to inclusive, accessible recruitment.
Eden Brown Synergy is an equal opportunities employer.
Eden Brown Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number (phone number removed). Our registered address is 5th floor 4 Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AR, part of nGAGE Specialist Recruitment Limited T/A nGAGE Talent. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. This message is intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please send it back to us, and immediately and permanently delete it. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. We take reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email but cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage sustained as a result of computer viruses and the recipient must ensure that the email (and attachments) are virus free