Overview
Social Worker / Safeguarding Lead
Location: Priory Hospital Chelmsford
Application Deadline: 31 October 2025
Department: Social Work
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Compensation: £44,000 / year
Priory Hospital Chelmsford is looking to recruit a Social Worker to join the team. This is a full-time 37.5 hours per week role. Chelmer Ward and The Lodge are private general psychiatry and addiction treatment facilities providing support to people in crisis with mental health issues, including psychosis, mood disorders, personality disorders, anxiety and trauma. The ward has a multidisciplinary team of consultant psychiatrists, specialty doctors, mental health nurses and therapists who work with the patient to maximise recovery journey.
What you’ll be doing
You will be part of a compassionate team committed to patient wellbeing. You will contribute to a personalised approach, using proven therapies to help people move forward with confidence and build a healthier, more fulfilling future. You will play a key part in patient recovery, assisting qualified staff with the assessment and implementation of individual patient care plans, undertaking routine tasks and activities as directed or delegated to facilitate wellbeing, dignity and treatment of patients.
* Provide expertise and leadership in safeguarding.
* Focus on the rights of all service users and their families, including the ability to investigate, evaluate and learn from allegations to improve safety, dignity and compassion within the unit.
* Work as part of the multi-disciplinary team focusing on prevention, early intervention, building resilience and self-care, reducing and delaying dependency.
* Undertake assessments, care plans and where required Tribunal Reports to determine eligibility and support access to services under the relevant social care framework.
What you’ll bring to the role
We seek a resilient individual with empathy who can support others through both highs and lows. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in Social Work, be registered with Social Work England, and possess knowledge of key legislation including the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and the Care Act 2014. They should demonstrate safeguarding expertise, recovery-focused multidisciplinary practice, and evidence-informed interventions. Skills in information gathering, collaboration and communication, with a focus on promoting autonomy, rights and best outcomes, are essential. Experience in a similar setting or willingness to learn is required.
What we will give you in return
We support your success with regular career conversations, full training, and pathways into leadership and qualified clinical positions. Benefits include:
* Free on-site parking
* Supplemented meals
* 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Birthday Holiday - an extra day of annual leave on your birthday
* Enhanced maternity pay
* Contributory pension scheme
* Flexible benefits (gym access, IT devices, Healthcare Cash Plan)
* Development opportunities and sponsorship of professional qualifications
* Leadership & management development
* Long service award
* Refer a friend bonuses
Shortlisting may begin upon receipt of applications, and the Recruiting Manager may close the vacancy early if enough suitable candidates are identified. In such cases, adverts should be closed immediately, and remaining applicants informed of the reason.
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