Senior Social Work Practitioner Mental Health Social Care

Senior Social Work Practitioner – Mental Health Social Care

The closing date is 16 January 2026.

A 12‑month secondment or fixed‑term opportunity for a Senior Social Work Practitioner in the Mental Health Adult Social Care Team.

Part‑time, 35 hours per week, Band 7 (plus 11.8% salary enhancement if qualified as AMHP).

If you have an AMHP qualification and are on the AMHP register, the 11.8% salary enhancement applies and you are expected to commit to the Torbay and South Devon AMHP rota for a minimum of two duties per month.

• To be a core member of a multi‑disciplinary Mental Health team and contribute to the effective provision of mental health services to working‑age adults in Torbay.
• Lead on undertaking holistic social care assessments in partnership with service users, families and carers; prepare care plans, commission services, and ensure the most beneficial and cost‑effective care packages are established, delivered, monitored and reviewed in compliance with statutory requirements and Trust standards, policies and guidelines.
• Have clear responsibilities for the safeguarding of adults and children and ensure compliance with social‑care legislation including the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Make a positive difference in people’s lives by working in partnership with service users, their carers and families.
• Work within the Trust’s Excellence Model of Social Work, promoting its practice and values and supporting the development of the highest quality social work.
• Jointly manage resources and relationships with key agencies to ensure timely and effective assessment, personalised support planning and care management, working with all agencies to deliver high‑quality, strength‑based provision to service users experiencing mental‑health problems, their families and carers.
• Provide leadership and management to a multi‑disciplinary team of practitioners in partnership with the Social Work Lead.
• Support and guide practitioners in risk assessment and risk management and offer a shared case‑management approach for highly complex cases.

We are the Adult Mental Health Social Care Team at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, and you will work jointly with the Social Work Lead. You will be a core member of the management team, providing leadership to the multi‑disciplinary U65 Mental Health Social Care team and leading effective assessment and discharge planning with working‑age adults in Torbay, including Torbay residents in out‑of‑area hospitals in the region.

• Relevant professional Social Work qualification – a degree, diploma or certificate in Social Work, or a certificate in Social Services.
• Current registration with SW England.
• Professional knowledge from a degree/diploma in social care, with further specialist knowledge, e.g. needs of specific client groups, equivalent to master’s level.
• Current registration with the General Social Workers register.
• Pending Professional Qualification (PQ) and commitment to post‑qualification training.
• Post‑qualifying experience.
• AMHP qualification.

• Experience in leadership/management roles within a social work setting.
• Role modelling best practice for social care staff within a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Experience of Court Work, e.g. Court of Protection.
• Experience working with complex mental‑health clients.
• Experience providing formal supervision.
• Ability to plan and direct complex service demands.
• Experience chairing meetings, e.g. Safeguarding, Best Interest.
• Experience overseeing complex safeguarding investigations.
• Experience with positive risk management and planning for individuals.
• Think laterally within departmental eligibility criteria while maximizing quality outcomes from resources.
• Work independently while making positive use of supervision and training.
• Use of IT‑based care management systems.
• Make statutory decisions in accordance with statutory requirements in a timely manner.
• Time‑management skills for assessment, planning, monitoring and review.
• Excellent report‑writing and recording skills.
• In‑depth knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and adult social care…