Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for recently qualified Social Workers who have a career interest in Forensic Social Work.
Broadmoor Hospital, as part of WLHT is responsible for the in-patient treatment of men detained under the Mental Health Act who require high levels of security in order to protect others and themselves.
As a newly qualified Social Worker, you will be joining a Social Work department, that has a proven track record in the development of team members from Social Work students to experienced practitioners.
After a comprehensive primary and secondary induction, the post will include working with a small protected caseload, balanced with learning and development opportunities within the service to develop the key skills and knowledge required for this interesting area of Social Work.
You will be supported through your Assessed Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), with completion being a requirement for these posts. You will have the benefit of regular supervision and mentoring from an on-site ASYE assessor and will have protected time to complete any ASYE requirements.
The Trust provides an array of both in-house and commissioned training and development opportunities relevant to Social Work.
Whilst it is desirable for candidates to have some experience working within forensic or community mental health settings, applications will be equally considered from Social Workers who may not have this experience, if they can demonstrate strong skills transfer.
Main duties of the job
Broadmoor Hospital covers a wide geographical catchment area that includes London and the South of England. We work within well-resourced multi-disciplinary teams, contributing to risk assessment and care planning from admission to step down from high security.
As a recently qualified Social Worker, you will benefit from a balance of casework, alongside learning and development of skills and practice, with a versatile arrangement of learning and practice development opportunities. You will develop your understanding and application of relevant risk assessment and risk management models, effective MDT working and the legal frameworks associated with forensic social work and high secure care and treatment.
The role will involve direct patient work, undertaking statutory assessments and writing formal reports, identifying and actioning safeguarding processes as well as working directly with families and carers. Forensic Social Work involves developing skills in multi-disciplinary practice and working with other agencies and bodies, including MAPPA, the Prison and Probation Service, the Victim Contact Scheme as well as Adult and Children and Families Social Work colleagues.
You will be fully supported throughout by an allocated supervisor and peer mentors.
On successful completion of the ASYE, the post holder will progress to a Band 6 Forensic Social Worker.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Social Work Qualification
- Registration with Social Work England
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing or previous professional development
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a forensic or community mental health setting
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of liaison with external agencies to support care pathway planning
- An ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, with evidence of potential to write authoritative and grammatically correct formal reports by the end of the ASYE period
- Experience of working with mental health patients and their families
- Some experience of analysing information and developing a social work opinion and recommendation to external or independent decision-makers
Desirable
- Experience of working with mentally disordered offenders
Knowledge
Essential
- Working knowledge of relevant legislation including Mental Health Act, Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Child and Adult safeguarding
- Personal commitment to developing the wide range of knowledge about the criminal justice and mental health systems required in order to work at Band 6 level upon completion of the ASYE period.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the wider Criminal Justice System, including courts, probation service and prisons
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Resilience in working with patients, who may be distressed and acutely mentally unwell
- Demonstrate a potential to work independently, following completion of the ASYE as the sole social worker on a multidisciplinary team, promoting a social work and social care perspective
- Demonstrate core values of social work, including a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice
- Demonstrate core values of social work, including a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice Ability to participate in Breakaway techniques training
- Ability to travel to visit patients' relatives and other contacts in their homes
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Social Work Qualification
- Registration with Social Work England
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing or previous professional development
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a forensic or community mental health setting
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of liaison with external agencies to support care pathway planning
- An ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, with evidence of potential to write authoritative and grammatically correct formal reports by the end of the ASYE period
- Experience of working with mental health patients and their families
- Some experience of analysing information and developing a social work opinion and recommendation to external or independent decision-makers
Desirable
- Experience of working with mentally disordered offenders
Knowledge
Essential
- Working knowledge of relevant legislation including Mental Health Act, Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, and Child and Adult safeguarding
- Personal commitment to developing the wide range of knowledge about the criminal justice and mental health systems required in order to work at Band 6 level upon completion of the ASYE period.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the wider Criminal Justice System, including courts, probation service and prisons
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Resilience in working with patients, who may be distressed and acutely mentally unwell
- Demonstrate a potential to work independently, following completion of the ASYE as the sole social worker on a multidisciplinary team, promoting a social work and social care perspective
- Demonstrate core values of social work, including a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice
- Demonstrate core values of social work, including a commitment to anti-discriminatory practice Ability to participate in Breakaway techniques training
- Ability to travel to visit patients' relatives and other contacts in their homes
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.
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.
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).
