Mental Health Social Worker

at  East London NHS Foundation Trust

To provide a high quality and effective mental health social work service to the residents of City and Hackney. To respond to the needs of adults with mental disorder and their carers in a timely manner, within the boundaries of statutory legislation, and with regard to individual circumstances. To assess need using a person centered approach and effectively asses and manage risk. To plan and deliver outcome focused interventions linked to promoting independence & social inclusion. When appropriate act as Care Coordinator within the framework of the Care Programme Approach, taking responsibility for the provision of a social work service to mental health services users and carers in the community and in hospital.
To undertake comprehensive assessment of need under The care Act 2014
To undertake comprehensive risk assessments and devise/implement risk management plans appropriate to level of risk.
If appropriate to team setting, conduct Carers Assessments in accordance with Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 and to ensure service users and their carers participate as fully as possible in case discussions.
To work in multi-disciplinary settings including participating in multi-disciplinary assessments, risk assessment and risk management plans.
To carry out all reviews in line with the Promoting Independence commitment to ensure that services continue to meet assessed needs and provide value for money. The review will also respond to changing needs, risks and the wider community to ensure that the support plan remains appropriate and individuals are kept safe.
To identify the rehabilitation potential for an individual and refer to a range of rehabilitation programmes, using a person centred approach to multi-disciplinary assessments which maximises the potential to use rehabilitation services and plans.
To identify and action Safeguarding Adult and Children alerts and undertake investigations, attending and presenting at safeguarding meetings and ensuring accurate recording in line with departmental procedures, referring to more senior practitioners for professional advice (including the Safeguarding Adults Manager).
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people’s lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Social Workers within community mental health care for Older People are embedded within the Mental Health Teams which requires them to deliver the statutory duties under the Care Act 2014.
Social Workers will be working with members of the multidisciplinary team including Mental Health Nurses, Doctors, Psychologists, Support Workers and Occupational Therapists.
As we move forward with the development of the NHS Long Term our social workers will be at the heart of achieving the aspirations of the service users and carers we work with providing the opportunity to focus on people’s assets and strengths and to consider holistic, creative solutions to support the individual.
Social Workers will endorse and act in accordance with the principles of personalisation within The Care Act 2014 to ensure that care and support is person centred and as far as possible, and places people in control of their own lives. In doing so they will carry out assessments of need in accordance with The Care Act, plan and deliver services and review outcomes with the individual, their personal networks and support providers.
Section 42 of The Care Act requires that the local authority must make enquiries if it believes that an adult is experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect. It is vital that Social Workers within Mental Health services possess a high level of knowledge and skills within the safeguarding arena to ensure a high standard of enquiries and investigations. The ability to work with other agencies is also a key skill to ensure that service users receive their desired outcomes under the Making Safeguarding Personal guidance.
Social Workers are expected to work in partnership with service users and carers, identifying and utilising strengths and working closely with other agencies and voluntary groups to ensure good outcomes which, as far as possible, maintain independence. Social Workers will have a good working knowledge of The Care Act, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act/DOLS and other social care legislation. Within the team it is vital that Social Workers maintain a social perspective to their work and promote social care issues within the team.
We believe the natural progression for a Social Worker within Mental Health Services is to strive towards completing their Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) training and this is something that we will expect and you will be supported to undertake.
We are proud to work with the diverse communities of City and Hackney and want our workforce to reflect this diversity, which we believe is beneficial for our employees, the organisation and the communities we serve. It is an exciting time to be joining Mental Health care for older people as a Social Worker in ELFT

1. To provide Older people with mental illness and carers presenting to the service with a clear and accurate assessment with the principles of personalisation within The Care Act 2014; to ensure that care and support is person centred and as far as possible, places people in control of their own lives. In doing so they will carry out assessments of need in accordance with The Care Act, plan and deliver services and review outcomes with the individual, their personal networks and support providers. This will be done through working as part of the multidisciplinary team, interviews, observation and gather information from service users, families and other agencies.
2. Carry out enquiries under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014 if it believes that an adult is experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect. It is vital that Social Workers within Mental Health services possess a high level of knowledge and skills within the safeguarding arena to ensure a high standard of enquiries and investigations. The ability to work with other agencies is also a key skill to ensure that service users receive their desired outcomes under the Making Safeguarding Personal guidance
3. Supporting service users and carers and identifying and utilising strengths and integrated working with other agencies and voluntary sectors to ensure good outcomes which, as far as possible, maintain independence.
4. Have a good working knowledge of The Care Act, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act/DOLS and other social care legislation