Social Worker - Aquarius Ward
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust
The closing date is 24 May 2026
This is a specialist professional leadership post offering social work leadership across the CAMHS service line, with a unique opportunity to strengthen social work practice within a mental health trust.
The successful candidate will be confident, skilled, and highly knowledgeable in both child and family social work and children and young people's mental health. A strong understanding and practical application of the law as it pertains to children and young people, including Mental Health Act 1983, is essential. The postholder will be required to provide expert professional advice, often in complex and high‑pressure situations.
The role bridges operational delivery and strategic leadership, providing visible and effective social work leadership across the CAMHS service line. You will ensure the provision of an efficient, effective, and high‑quality professional service that meets all statutory, regulatory, and NHS requirements relating to social work practice with children and young people.
Working collaboratively with senior leaders and multi‑agency partners, the postholder will ensure social work practice aligns with wider organisational objectives and maintains the highest professional standards.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social work leader passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people, and families within mental health services.
Main duties of the job
* Provide advice and guidance across the CAMHS Park to the social work staff.
* Have a primary practitioner role servicing the social work function on Aquarius ward.
* Deputise for the CAMHS Social Worker Team Manager when unavailable.
* Be a highly experienced social worker with sound knowledge of Mental Health Legislation and children's inter‑related legislation.
* Provide advice on child safeguarding processes and ensure Trust safeguarding policies and procedures are followed.
* Provide clinical practice input across the Park in an advisory capacity and cover when required, but maintain a primary commitment to Aquarius Ward.
* Provide professional supervision for social workers in CAMHS and related services.
Job responsibilities
* Liaise and interface with multidisciplinary staff within the service area.
* Liaise and work with external agencies, notably Local Authority Children Services and CAMHS Community Services (Tier 3).
* Investigate and advise on complex, highly sensitive, and confidential information, particularly safeguarding cases and other high‑risk situations.
* Produce written reports for various purposes and audiences, including social circumstances reports for Mental Health Tribunals, safeguarding investigation reports, social work reports for internal use, communication with external health and social care organisations, periodic audits, and analytical reports on social work and social care practices.
* Develop and provide consultation to other services and agencies, including individual clinicians or multi‑disciplinary teams.
* Supervise less experienced social workers in day‑to‑day clinical practice.
* Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, and Trust policies.
* Maintain high standards of professional practice, always acting in the best interests of service users and carers.
* Contribute to the assessment of young people and families admitted to the ward to ensure safe discharge planning.
* Work closely with all relevant service members to achieve the best possible outcomes.
* Promote the interests and welfare of all patients and families, referencing the Human Rights Act 1998 and other relevant legislation.
* Lead on adult and child safeguarding within the service area and act as a key liaison point with local and regional statutory safeguarding and child protection services.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
* Recognised social work qualification or equivalent
* Current registration with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) register of qualified social workers
* Postgraduate/Master's level attainment in relevant area of study
* Evidence of relevant post‑qualifying formal study / professional development
* Completion of post‑qualifying award or advanced award in social work
* Commitment to additional training relevant to the post
Experience
* Demonstrable extended post‑qualification experience in a social work setting with emphasis on children and young people with mental health problems
* Experience dealing with complex caseloads in a multi‑disciplinary mental health service
* Experience of child and adult safeguarding practice
* Experience supervising other social work staff
* Experience providing consultation and advice
* Demonstrable experience of policy development
* Experience working with specific client groups relevant to the service area
* Experience working with interpreters
* Previous experience of giving presentations, particularly in promoting awareness, issues or academic research
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required to screen for any prior convictions.
Unless expressly stated in the job advert this role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
We offer flexible working, career development and a varietyofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
£58,133 to £65,261 a year pro rata per annum inclusive of Inner London HCAs
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