Overview
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT) is looking for experienced, motivated and values‑driven Advanced Practitioner Lead Social Workers to help shape and strengthen social work practice across our mental health services.
This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a visible leadership role, supporting social workers at every stage of their career. You will champion high‑quality, compassionate practice, create positive learning environments and promote strong inter‑professional working across community and inpatient settings.
Working closely with the Principal Social Worker and external partners, you will influence quality, standards and future development across services.
Qualifications
* You must be registered with Social Work England
* Hold Practice Educator qualifications (PEPS Level 2)
* Have substantial post‑qualifying experience within mental health services
Responsibilities
* Act as lead social worker from point of inpatient admission through to transfer back to the community, working in partnership with the Care Coordinator from the identified CMHT.
* Hold responsibility for all new inpatient admissions, maintaining an active caseload, ensuring continuity of social care throughout the admission pathway.
* Operate at a senior level, providing support to inpatient teams & operationally managing & providing clinical oversight to Band 6 Inpatient Social Workers
* Undertake Care Act assessments & Section 117 aftercare assessments from the point of admission, ensuring timely, proportionate & person‑centred planning.
* Assess, manage & escalate risk, including safeguarding concerns, in line with statutory duties and Trust policy.
* Provide specialist mental health social work advice & guidance to staff, patients, carers & partner agencies.
* Offer expert legal literacy & application in relation to relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act (Section 117), Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, safeguarding legislation & housing legislation.
* Contribute to a consistent & integrated approach to inpatient care planning, with the aim of improving outcomes, reducing length of stay & enabling socially safe and timely discharge.
* Act as the link Social Worker between inpatient services and community teams, providing regular progress reports to CMHT leadership to support safe & effective discharge planning.
Benefits
* We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
* Increase mileage rates for > 4500
* A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
* A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
* Plus many more.
* We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
* BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate’s best interest to apply as soon as possible
For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Jacqui Hooley Job title: Principal Social Worker Email address: jacqui.hooley@bdct.nhs.uk Telephone number: 07787311727
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