Senior Social Worker

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated social worker to join the Multi-Disciplinary Team for the Women's Blended Service, which is based on Blossom Ward at the Hellingly Centre (medium and low secure inpatient service) and managed by the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Forensic Healthcare Service (FHS). You will be part of the wider FHS social work team, working alongside women with mental health issues and challenging or offending behaviour using a Trauma Informed approach.

You will link in with their friends and families and their professional networks to develop care pathways. You will take a leadership role in relation to the development of the Women's Blended Service across the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Provider Collaborative and support the Lead Inpatient Social Workers, including providing supervision.

To be responsible and provide effective leadership as a part of a leadership team. To provide specialist social work knowledge and guidance for a clinical team providing a high-quality service within the resources available within a defined area, and specifically to deliver on the following key areas:
Where required, take the role of practice educator for social work students and the role of ASYE assessor and supervisor for newly qualified social workers in the team. To be a key link with local authority partners and Acute Services/nurturing and maintain good relationships to ensure the best outcomes for service users. To engage with the social work professional network in SPFT: attending forums and supporting professional supervision and CPD for social workers within this setting.

To keep up to date with current regional and national social work-related developments and share these with the team as appropriate

We provide NHS care and treatment to children, young people, adults and older people who have mental health problems, learning disabilities or neurodiversity needs.

We employ about 5,700 staff. Many of our services are provided in partnership with other organisations. We provide care in people's homes, in specialist clinics, hospitals and GP surgeries.

As well as being a provider of services across Sussex we also commission specialist beds. Working with NHS and independent sector healthcare organisations across the South-East we are the lead provider in three Provider Collaboratives. These cover adult eating disorders, secure care and children and young people inpatient services.

Sussex Partnership was formed in April 2006 as an NHS Trust and established as an NHS Foundation Trust with teaching trust status in August 2008. We work closely with Brighton and Sussex Medical School, a partnership between the Universities of Brighton and Sussex. In 2015, we became a member of the Association of UK University Hospitals, the representative body for university hospitals with major teaching and research interests across the UK and internationally.

Our services are rated 'good' by the Care Quality Commission and 'outstanding' for caring. We work closely with other health and care partners to provide the best possible care to our local populations. We have strengths in innovation, including our work in the field of research and development.

Clinical practice, including own professional development

To provide comprehensive assessment of mental health specific to needs of service area.

To manage a caseload of clients with complex mental health needs and undertake case management/lead professional/ CPA as needed.

To be able to communicate with and meet the needs of families and carers as appropriate to the care group and the individual client.

To have experience of and specialist knowledge on interventions to be able to lead in clinical area.

To receive management supervision from Ward Manager or equivalent.

To establish professional links with other care groups and professionals.

To work in partnership with other agencies to gain the best person centered outcomes for the individual.

A person centred/strengths-based perspective, that looks at the person within the context of their life both past present and potential future.

Empathy and a commitment to having an open and honest relationship with service users and those close to them.

A strong commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and to helping people overcome social injustice

Promoting recovery and social inclusion with individuals and families.

Excellent legal and statutory knowledge of enablement, care and support systems that makes social workers systems leaders for multiagency practice.

Intervening and showing professional leadership in situations characterised by high levels of social, family and interpersonal complexity, risk and ambiguity

A willingness to become a practice educator/support the development of other social workers

Working with other professional groups to support a joined up multi-professional approach

• Recognised social work qualification…