Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Social Worker

The closing date is 18 September 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for highly motivated social workers to join Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) as locally we invest in the development of social workers and as we play a lead role in the 'Think Ahead' initiative. EPUT is a highly successful and ambitious organisation dedicated to providing mental health services, substance misuse services and other specialist award winning services to a population of approximately 2.5million throughout Essex, Bedfordshire and Suffolk.

We are seeking enthusiastic and resourceful social workers who will have the ability to respond positively and creatively to the needs of our service users.

Main duties of the job

You will work as part of the discharge team on one of our locality psychiatric units working with patients (currently on the psychiatric inpatient unit); their families, the mental health system and working proactively with the discharge coordinator to ensure that patients are discharged in a timely manner, ensuring that their needs under the Care Act (2014) are assessed and met.

Our posts require people with a high degree of flexibility and creativity and a positive, forward-thinking attitude.

You must be an excellent communicator, dynamic and well versed and assertive in multi-disciplinary working and developing and maintaining relationships with key partners.

In return we offer you support from our established Social Care Leadership Team, supervision, training and development opportunities.

About us

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

  • Season Ticket Loans
  • NHS discounts for staff
  • Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
  • Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
  • The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
  • Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Details

Date posted

04 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

364-A-9307

Job locations

Basildon Mental Health Unit

Nethermayne

Basildon

SS16 5NL


Job description

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will work as a Social Worker as part of the discharge team providing high quality interventions to service users experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties, promoting recovery and independence.

You will work with a defined caseload, working with individuals and their families, where there are system wide barriers that delay discharge and recovery. It would be highly beneficial if the successful candidate holds previous knowledge and/or experience of accommodation funding streams, local housing referral pathways and priority need, safeguarding, dual diagnosis, NRPF (No Recourse to Public Funds), and social circumstances that lead to both admission and challenges to discharge.

This post will involve implementing the personalisation agenda through strengths based assessments and youll be vital to delivering the statutory social care duties and responsibilities within the Care Act (2014).

The postholder is required to actively practice as an AMHP, if they have an AMHP qualification, on the Area AMHP rota, undertaking MHA assessments and other allocated work in relation to service users with a range of mental health problems and engaging with their carers so that, within the legislations, appropriate action is taken.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will work as a Social Worker as part of the discharge team providing high quality interventions to service users experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties, promoting recovery and independence.

You will work with a defined caseload, working with individuals and their families, where there are system wide barriers that delay discharge and recovery. It would be highly beneficial if the successful candidate holds previous knowledge and/or experience of accommodation funding streams, local housing referral pathways and priority need, safeguarding, dual diagnosis, NRPF (No Recourse to Public Funds), and social circumstances that lead to both admission and challenges to discharge.

This post will involve implementing the personalisation agenda through strengths based assessments and youll be vital to delivering the statutory social care duties and responsibilities within the Care Act (2014).

The postholder is required to actively practice as an AMHP, if they have an AMHP qualification, on the Area AMHP rota, undertaking MHA assessments and other allocated work in relation to service users with a range of mental health problems and engaging with their carers so that, within the legislations, appropriate action is taken.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

  • Possession of recognised Social Work Qualification - Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
  • Registration with Social Work England, Approved Mental Health Professional. - either already approved as an AMHP, or agrees a commitment to AMHP training.

Desirable

  • Studying or willingness to study towards full Post Qualification Award in Social Work

Knowledge

Essential

  • Multi-disciplinary Social Care experience within multi-disciplinary team - relevant to people with mental health difficulties.
  • Knowledge and understanding of Social Care practice as defined by Social Work England and appropriate legislation and guidance.

Desirable

  • A variety of experiences working with people with mental health difficulties.
  • Supervisory experience
  • Awareness of government guidance and legislative changes across broad range of NHS and Social Care issues
Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

  • Possession of recognised Social Work Qualification - Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
  • Registration with Social Work England, Approved Mental Health Professional. - either already approved as an AMHP, or agrees a commitment to AMHP training.

Desirable

  • Studying or willingness to study towards full Post Qualification Award in Social Work

Knowledge

Essential

  • Multi-disciplinary Social Care experience within multi-disciplinary team - relevant to people with mental health difficulties.
  • Knowledge and understanding of Social Care practice as defined by Social Work England and appropriate legislation and guidance.

Desirable

  • A variety of experiences working with people with mental health difficulties.
  • Supervisory experience
  • Awareness of government guidance and legislative changes across broad range of NHS and Social Care issues

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

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Basildon Mental Health Unit

Nethermayne

Basildon

SS16 5NL


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Basildon Mental Health Unit

Nethermayne

Basildon

SS16 5NL


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Matron

Jefferson Seager

jeffersonseager@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

04 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

364-A-9307

Job locations

Basildon Mental Health Unit

Nethermayne

Basildon

SS16 5NL


Supporting documents

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