Job summary
West London NHS Trust is one of the largest providers of mental health care in the country. We are also a leading national provider of secure and specialist mental healthcare. We currently provide community based forensic care to 8 North West London Boroughs and we are seeking new staff to join our teams. Our Forensic Services were recently rated as Outstanding by the CQC.
We have been chosen by NHS England to pioneer a new approach to support forensic service users in the community. The Specialist Community Forensic Team will work to transition service users out of secure settings, and support their ongoing recovery in the community. This can improve quality of life, reduce inequality, and give hope to people who may have been detained for many years.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for applicants for a Forensic Social Worker/ Social Supervisor committed to working collaboratively with individuals and providers in the community to find positive and safe ways of working with people who use these services. In particular: -You will work as part of the ground-breaking team that will improve the lives of forensic mental health service users and their carers. This is a rare chance to be part of shaping a new service, providing opportunities to develop your skills and your career. The applicant must have a qualification in social work and be registered with Social Work England.At WLNHST we don't just accept difference we actively celebrate it and support it for the benefit of our staff, our patients and our community. We are proud to be part of an equal opportunity work place.
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 over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
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
Essential
- Qualification in Social Work with current Social Work England Registration
Desirable
- Post Qualifying training and development
Experience
Essential
- The applicant must have a minimum of two years post graduate Social Work experience
- The applicant must have two years post qualification experience in a mental health setting
- The applicant must have experience of autonomous working as a social worker
Desirable
- Experience of community forensic working practises
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate an ability to undertake assessments of risk using specific risk assessment tools
- Demonstrate an ability to formulate implement and evaluate programmes of care for those individuals in the Community Forensic Service and those being referred
- Demonstrate an ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with clients who have a range of disorders that will include personality disorder dual diagnosis
- Demonstrate knowledge of actuarial and clinical risk assessment and how this might be applied to the management of clients
- Demonstrate knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act and its application to Mentally Disordered Offenders
- Demonstrate knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and its implication for the management of Forensic clients
- Demonstrate an ability to teach
- Demonstrate an ability to work with a range of organisations including Courts, Police and Probation, ministry of Justice
- Demonstrate good communication skills, especially listening, empathy, facilitation, persuasion, motivation, negotiation, education, and reassurance
- Demonstrate ability to lead projects and development of services
- Demonstrate the ability to understand the role of the Community Forensic Service
- Demonstrate ability for cross cultural working ensuring whatever the cultural background of clients they are treated holistically
- Demonstrate an ability to manage stress and competing demands prioritising appropriately
- Demonstrate skills associated with good documentation
- An ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to work in an autonomous manner
Desirable
- Demonstrate ability to supervise staff
- Demonstrate ability to lead on projects and audits
- Demonstrate a good understanding of CPA and its application
- Demonstrate an ability to communicate complex issues to users and carers
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification in Social Work with current Social Work England Registration
Desirable
- Post Qualifying training and development
Experience
Essential
- The applicant must have a minimum of two years post graduate Social Work experience
- The applicant must have two years post qualification experience in a mental health setting
- The applicant must have experience of autonomous working as a social worker
Desirable
- Experience of community forensic working practises
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate an ability to undertake assessments of risk using specific risk assessment tools
- Demonstrate an ability to formulate implement and evaluate programmes of care for those individuals in the Community Forensic Service and those being referred
- Demonstrate an ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with clients who have a range of disorders that will include personality disorder dual diagnosis
- Demonstrate knowledge of actuarial and clinical risk assessment and how this might be applied to the management of clients
- Demonstrate knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act and its application to Mentally Disordered Offenders
- Demonstrate knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and its implication for the management of Forensic clients
- Demonstrate an ability to teach
- Demonstrate an ability to work with a range of organisations including Courts, Police and Probation, ministry of Justice
- Demonstrate good communication skills, especially listening, empathy, facilitation, persuasion, motivation, negotiation, education, and reassurance
- Demonstrate ability to lead projects and development of services
- Demonstrate the ability to understand the role of the Community Forensic Service
- Demonstrate ability for cross cultural working ensuring whatever the cultural background of clients they are treated holistically
- Demonstrate an ability to manage stress and competing demands prioritising appropriately
- Demonstrate skills associated with good documentation
- An ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to work in an autonomous manner
Desirable
- Demonstrate ability to supervise staff
- Demonstrate ability to lead on projects and audits
- Demonstrate a good understanding of CPA and its application
- Demonstrate an ability to communicate complex issues to users and carers
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
