Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Specialist Social Worker, Paediatric Metabolic Service

The closing date is 26 April 2026

Job summary

Are you an experienced Social Worker passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people?

We are seeking a dynamic individual who has an interest in working in a specialist and learning-rich environment, who can demonstrate compassion and empathy for our children, young people and their families. The individual will be joining the multi-professional team across both Nottingham and Leicester Children's Hospitals as part of the East Midland's Paediatric Metabolic Service.

Main duties of the job

As the Social Worker within the team, you will be a key member of the multidisciplinary metabolic team, working closely with consultants, dietitians, and allied professionals across hospitals and community settings. You will support children and their families through complex care pathways, helping them navigate clinical, emotional, and practical challenges.

If you would like to work in a friendly environment and are motivated and enthusiastic about making a difference to the care of patients with inherited metabolic disorders, we would like to hear from you!

About us

With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.

Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.

Details

Date posted

10 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

164-7833062

Job locations

Queen's Medical Centre

Derby Road, Lenton

Nottingham

NG7 2UH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification documents for detailed description of responsibilities for this post

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification documents for detailed description of responsibilities for this post

Person Specification

Training and qualifications

Essential

  • oUK recognised qualification in social work e.g. BA Social Work, Diploma in Social Work
  • oRegistered with Social Work England
  • oKnowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development
  • oKnowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedure
  • oKnowledge and understanding of disability benefits
  • oEvidence of CPD
  • oKnowledge of roles and responsibilities of key agencies working with young people
  • oSignificant experience of social work - able to work independently

Desirable

  • oMaster's degree/working towards
  • oManagement/leadership qualification or relevant experience

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of working with children, young people and families with complex needs and long-term illness
  • oExperience of safeguarding
  • oExperience of working in a multi-professional team
  • oExperience of working with people with complex emotional needs
  • oAbility to work well under pressure
  • oDemonstrate understanding of quality assurance processes
  • oExperience of involving users in service development
  • oExperience of lone working
  • oAbility to respond to unpredictable work patterns and interruptions

Desirable

  • oAbility to work with professionals across difference disciplines and different workplaces.
  • oExperience of dealing with bereavement
  • oExperience of research and audit
  • oExperience/understanding of inherited metabolic disorders

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

  • oExcellent interpersonal and communications skills, written and oral
  • oAbility to manage conflict
  • oDemonstrates high level negotiation skills
  • oAble to motivate and support others and encourage effective team working
  • oUnderstands the importance of confidentiality and dealing with sensitive information
  • oHas the ability to create a rapport with patients and carers
  • oAbility to present complex information
  • oAbility to teach
  • oAbility to deal with high levels of emotional stress
  • oAbility to demonstrated compassion and empathy
  • oExperience of writing reports
  • oExperience of effective communication with patients/ families/ service users.

Desirable

  • oExperience of conference presentation/publication

Analytical and judgement skills

Essential

  • oExcellent problem-solving skills using team when appropriate
  • oAble to present and receive complex information within the multi professional team
  • oAbility to gather information quickly and effectively to inform judgement for interventions
  • oAbility to use risk assessment frameworks
  • oAbility to make timely, safe care plans in conjunction with patients, carers, MDT and external agencies
  • oAbility to uphold social work principles within a multidisciplinary team
  • oAbility to reflect on own practice and demonstrate continuous improvement
  • oAbility to promote patient choice and empowerment
  • oMust be able to work within Trust procedures.
  • oMust be able to adjust to changing environments/ priorities, be adaptable and flexible.

Planning and organisation skills

Essential

  • oAbility to prioritise own workload, work independently and on own initiative
  • oAble to multi-task and set goals for completion.
  • oForward thinking, innovative
  • oAbility to work on own initiative but also as part of a team
  • oTime management skills

Desirable

  • oProject management
  • oUse own initiative and be imaginative in terms of moving service forward

Physical skills

Essential

  • oIT skills
  • oAdaptable and flexible
  • oPositive, enthusiastic and motivated
  • oWork in a variety of settings within a working day.
  • oAble to undertake light physical work.
  • oBe able to attend hospital sites/patient homes within the East Midlands in a timely manner.

Desirable

  • oUK driving licence.
Person Specification

Training and qualifications

Essential

  • oUK recognised qualification in social work e.g. BA Social Work, Diploma in Social Work
  • oRegistered with Social Work England
  • oKnowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development
  • oKnowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedure
  • oKnowledge and understanding of disability benefits
  • oEvidence of CPD
  • oKnowledge of roles and responsibilities of key agencies working with young people
  • oSignificant experience of social work - able to work independently

Desirable

  • oMaster's degree/working towards
  • oManagement/leadership qualification or relevant experience

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of working with children, young people and families with complex needs and long-term illness
  • oExperience of safeguarding
  • oExperience of working in a multi-professional team
  • oExperience of working with people with complex emotional needs
  • oAbility to work well under pressure
  • oDemonstrate understanding of quality assurance processes
  • oExperience of involving users in service development
  • oExperience of lone working
  • oAbility to respond to unpredictable work patterns and interruptions

Desirable

  • oAbility to work with professionals across difference disciplines and different workplaces.
  • oExperience of dealing with bereavement
  • oExperience of research and audit
  • oExperience/understanding of inherited metabolic disorders

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

  • oExcellent interpersonal and communications skills, written and oral
  • oAbility to manage conflict
  • oDemonstrates high level negotiation skills
  • oAble to motivate and support others and encourage effective team working
  • oUnderstands the importance of confidentiality and dealing with sensitive information
  • oHas the ability to create a rapport with patients and carers
  • oAbility to present complex information
  • oAbility to teach
  • oAbility to deal with high levels of emotional stress
  • oAbility to demonstrated compassion and empathy
  • oExperience of writing reports
  • oExperience of effective communication with patients/ families/ service users.

Desirable

  • oExperience of conference presentation/publication

Analytical and judgement skills

Essential

  • oExcellent problem-solving skills using team when appropriate
  • oAble to present and receive complex information within the multi professional team
  • oAbility to gather information quickly and effectively to inform judgement for interventions
  • oAbility to use risk assessment frameworks
  • oAbility to make timely, safe care plans in conjunction with patients, carers, MDT and external agencies
  • oAbility to uphold social work principles within a multidisciplinary team
  • oAbility to reflect on own practice and demonstrate continuous improvement
  • oAbility to promote patient choice and empowerment
  • oMust be able to work within Trust procedures.
  • oMust be able to adjust to changing environments/ priorities, be adaptable and flexible.

Planning and organisation skills

Essential

  • oAbility to prioritise own workload, work independently and on own initiative
  • oAble to multi-task and set goals for completion.
  • oForward thinking, innovative
  • oAbility to work on own initiative but also as part of a team
  • oTime management skills

Desirable

  • oProject management
  • oUse own initiative and be imaginative in terms of moving service forward

Physical skills

Essential

  • oIT skills
  • oAdaptable and flexible
  • oPositive, enthusiastic and motivated
  • oWork in a variety of settings within a working day.
  • oAble to undertake light physical work.
  • oBe able to attend hospital sites/patient homes within the East Midlands in a timely manner.

Desirable

  • oUK driving licence.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

Queen's Medical Centre

Derby Road, Lenton

Nottingham

NG7 2UH


Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

Queen's Medical Centre

Derby Road, Lenton

Nottingham

NG7 2UH


Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Regional Lead Nurse, EMPMS

Helen Thurman

helen.thurman@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

10 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

164-7833062

Job locations

Queen's Medical Centre

Derby Road, Lenton

Nottingham

NG7 2UH


Supporting documents

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