Consultant Clinical Social Worker
The closing date is 29 April 2026
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Consultant Clinical Social Worker to join HPFT's Community CYPMHS Team for a 12‑month maternity cover. HPFT is at the forefront of providing integrated health and social care and is one of only a handful of mental health trusts in the country to receive a CQC rating of ‘OUTSTANDING’.
CYPMHS Community teams are welcoming, supportive multidisciplinary teams committed to providing innovative and high‑quality care. This county‑wide service offers services to children and young people experiencing severe and enduring mental health issues. You will work alongside other clinical social workers, nurses, systemic family therapists, clinical psychologists, child psychotherapists, psychiatrists, operational staff, and partner agencies across Social Care and Education. HCPC registration is required.
We offer various models of evidence‑based therapeutic intervention and work alongside our other CYPMHS services including Eating Disorders Team, Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team, DBT team, Forensic Adolescent Practitioner service, Adolescent inpatient unit, Home Treatment Team and CYPMHS Targeted team.
Main duties of the job
You will offer mental health assessments and interventions to young people and their families and carers with an ability to work with a high level of complexity and risk. You will work closely with a range of colleagues in social care, schools and other partners and support other clinicians in your team. The team works within the context of iThrive, CAPA and CYP‑IAPT.
The role may involve being invited to join senior leadership team meetings where your expertise supports decision‑making of complex cases. You will also provide supervision to clinicians in the team and support colleagues and teams in shaping and developing services, ensuring adherence to protocols, policies and KPIs.
As a consultant social worker you will support team functioning and manage a caseload. Within the team you will facilitate safeguarding consultations and discussion spaces.
The successful candidate will be supported to develop and build on existing skills and knowledge and will have access to a range of training opportunities suited to both the service and personal interests.
Job responsibilities
The post‑holder will provide a variety of clinical/professional supervision to trainees on placement and multidisciplinary colleagues for purposes of training and continuing professional development.
The post holder will be supported to develop personally and professionally and there are opportunities for service development.
HPFT CAMHS service leads transforming care for young people and their families and has a CAMHS Home Treatment Team, a CAMHS DBT Service, and a dedicated CAMHS Section 136 Suite. We also host our own Tier 4 Inpatient Unit for young people, Forest House Adolescent Unit, which has worked to reduce inpatient admissions and improve community care for young people in crisis.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Training and Experience
* RMN/RN (MH) / Social Work Qualification
* BSc in Mental Health Practice or equivalent, or substantial post‑qualifying experience in Liaison Psychiatry
* Mentoring and assessing students qualification
* 5+ years and/or more post‑qualification
* Cert or Dip in Management Relevant skills‑based training, MSc or equivalent
* Experience of working within a CAMHS setting assessing or supporting young people experiencing a mental health crisis
Areas Of Experience and Knowledge
* Significant and relevant experience of working with a therapeutic model in assessing or supporting young people experiencing a mental health crisis
* Significant experience of community‑focused care
* Multi‑professional working/case management
* Experience of carrying out autonomous acute mental health assessment
* The ability to lead a multi‑professional team and provide ongoing operational, clinical and professional supervision
* Complex knowledge of legislation and policy regarding the provision of mental health care/services and other relevant legislation
* Knowledge of Bio‑Psycho‑social models of care
* Knowledge of physical health contributions to mental health issues, difficulties and assessment
* Previous involvement in service development and knowledge of change management
* Experience of budget and resource management
* Experience of operational policy development
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and 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.
Salary and employment details
£59,798 to £67,020 a year, pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS)
Fixed term
12 months
Full‑time
Reference number: 367‑SS‑9997‑B
Job location: Borehamwood Civic Office, HPFT Ground Floor
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