Social Worker
The closing date is 24 April 2026.
We are recruiting a qualified band 5 Social Worker in Hertfordshire's first episode in psychosis team. We would love you to join our team in the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service – which we call PATH (Psychosis: Prevention, Assessment and Treatment in Hertfordshire). People using our service are experiencing psychosis for the first time. We are committed to delivering personalised and meaningful care that makes a positive difference and helps people to achieve outcomes that make their lives better.
Our Band 5 social worker will be working in the North and East of Hertfordshire in a specified geographical area around Bishops Stortford with a main team base in Stevenage.
Our roles are focussed on delivering care along the FEP pathway for people and their families. As well as offering the ASYE for newly qualified social workers you will have access to comprehensive training to develop your skills in:
* Expertly assessing psychosis with people who are coming into our service for the first time
* Delivering excellent physical health care to support healthy lifestyles and ongoing good health
* Completing an accredited training programme (with dedicated study time) to be a Family Intervention Therapist who will work alongside trained Clinical Psychologists in the service to support families
* Working with carers to help them with their own needs and understanding psychosis
Main duties of the job
The candidate will be working as part of a hub and spoke model, care coordinating a caseload of service users who are experiencing a first episode of psychosis. The hub serves as a central point of coordination, working closely with the wider multi‑disciplinary team as spokes to oversee care plans.
The FEP/EIP Social Worker will be responsible for the assessment of care needs and the development, implementation and evaluation of a programme of care for a defined caseload of people with first episode psychosis and maintaining associated records. The core functions are to undertake integrated health and social care assessments, co‑producing a care plan with individuals and their support networks and delivering this within a framework of recovery which embraces each individual’s right to choice and control. Ensuring that carers are effectively assessed and supported is a key component of this role. The role requires skills in assessing, planning, organising, reviewing and delivering recovery‑oriented and evidence‑based interventions to support the recovery of service users, as agreed with supervising clinician(s). This work will be in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards. The post holder will utilise their skills and knowledge to undertake assessments, identify desired social care outcomes and carry out treatment both in inpatient areas and community areas as appropriate.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of Outstanding from the Care Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
Job responsibilities
For full details of the role and responsibilities please refer to the attached Job description and person specification.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
* Academic qualifications at degree level or above
* Membership of professional bodies
* Additional areas of training through short courses
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
* Experience at in a relevant mental health setting
* Evidence of continuing professional development
* Working knowledge of MHA (1983), CPA, Risk Assessment and Section 25 etc
* Effective multi‑professional team communication & team working
* Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate agreed care with supervision
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
* Excellent ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders including service users and carers, other professional colleagues, members of other organisations and local communities, verbally and in writing
* Ability to manage highly sensitive information
* Experience of using electronic recording systems and ability to produce accurate, appropriate, and timely reports
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
* Ability to analyse service user and carer information.
* Experience of undertaking small scale audits and surveys
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Address
Saffron Ground, Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage, SG1 3LJ
Salary
£32,073 to £39,043 a year, pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full‑time
Reference number
367-ACMS-10013-B
Job locations
Saffron Ground, Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage, SG1 3LJ
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