Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services)

SEO Mental Health Social Worker Regional Lead

The closing date is 30 March 2026

Job summary

Are you a highly skilled Senior Mental Health Social Worker, looking for an exciting and rewarding role? Are you seeking job satisfaction, numerous benefits, and training opportunities? Would you like your career to take a different direction into a friendly and professional organisation?

If the answer is yes, then you would be well-suited to the senior Mental Health Social Worker role that we have at Venning Barracks, Shropshire.

The vacant post is a full time offering 37 hours per week.

Could this be the role for you? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Benefits -

  • A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
  • A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
  • Free on-site parking
  • Professional registration fees re-imbursed

They can reside anywhere in the region but must attend Donnington base for essentials regular senior management meetings as well as to support the PAR associated with that riel.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will provide effective Mental Health Social Work (MHSW) in support of a designated Department of Community Mental Health, Defence Mental Health Social Work Service and the wider Defence Mental Health Services.

To manage a designated group of Senior Mental Health Social Workers (MHSW), Higher Executive Officers (HEO), within the area of responsibility.

About us

Our success depends on our people our Whole Force regular and reservist military, civil servants and contractors, all working as one, working together seamlessly to deliver for us.

Our civil servants are a central part of this Whole Force, developing strategy, making policy, supporting ministerial decision-making and Parliamentary processes. In fact, with over 2,000 different roles working across 650 sites around the world, now really is an excellent time to join one of the largest most exciting departments in government.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to attracting and retaining people from across the full range of backgrounds and enabling flexible ways of working as the norm. We offer maternity, adoption or shared parental leave up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay.

In return, you can expect a department that helps you learn and develop that recognises your expertise and contribution, both as an individual and part of a team.

If you've ever wanted to do more, see more, go further or be better, we have roles in more professions and vocations than ever before. Let's see where your future will take you, together.

Details

Date posted

06 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£46,040 a year (pro rata for part time) Market Skills Allowance £5000 pa (pr)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

K0003-26-0100

Job locations

Building V12,

Venning Barracks,

Donnington,

Shropshire,

TF2 8JT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities for the role include but are not limited to:

  • To provide delivery assurance to the Defence Mental Health Social Work Service (DMHSWS) Head of Service (HoS) in developing and directing organisational level policy and service development in order to ensure the optimal delivery of the Mental Health Social Work Service within DCMH and Network within the designated area of responsibility.
  • To manage a designated group of Senior Mental Health Social Workers (MHSW), Higher Executive Officers (HEO), within the area of responsibility.
  • Provide individual and group professional supervision and guidance to MHSWs in area of responsibility as per policy guidelines. To Chair quarterly regional meetings and attend National meetings as required.
  • Provide service delivery lead role and change management to area of responsibility and wider MHSW service as appropriate.
  • To lead and support the development of MHSWs within are of responsibility to ensure excellence in all areas of practice including DCMH / Network Safeguarding Lead.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for the full list of duties.

Selection Process:

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

CV:

  • Please ensure you demonstrate that you have the required skills, knowledge, experience, qualifications and memberships in the CV section of the application form.
  • Please provide information of how you meet the criteria set out in the Job Description. You may wish to further include examples of how you have tackled similar tasks or demonstrated the skills outlined in the job advert.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

At interview youwill be assessed against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

  • Leadership
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Changing and Improving
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace

At the interview candidates will be given a case scenario which will be measured against one of the behaviours.

The interview may consist of a mix of direct questions and clinical situation-based scenarios.

The sift will be completed within10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview.

Please see the link to our YouTube channel for advice preparing your best responses with some hints and tips on answering behaviour-based questions. Hints and tips such as: Your behaviours can be based on situations from work, volunteering or home, match your situation to the behaviour requested and how to use your 250-word limit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpdNWKQSRI

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards the level of attendance. applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.

All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check.

If found successful for this position, you will be required to provide evidence of your immunity to Hepatitis B. Please note that evidence of your vaccination is not a proof of your immunity, but your serology levels will be required. Failure to provide sufficient evidence may result in the offer of employment being withdrawn.

To be considered for this role, qualifications and memberships detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application.

There is no requirement to deploy as this is met by our uniformed personnel, but you will form the continuity of care required by our patients when based at home.

The post does NOT offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non-Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact dbscivpers-sgdmsresourcing@mod.gov.uk.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities for the role include but are not limited to:

  • To provide delivery assurance to the Defence Mental Health Social Work Service (DMHSWS) Head of Service (HoS) in developing and directing organisational level policy and service development in order to ensure the optimal delivery of the Mental Health Social Work Service within DCMH and Network within the designated area of responsibility.
  • To manage a designated group of Senior Mental Health Social Workers (MHSW), Higher Executive Officers (HEO), within the area of responsibility.
  • Provide individual and group professional supervision and guidance to MHSWs in area of responsibility as per policy guidelines. To Chair quarterly regional meetings and attend National meetings as required.
  • Provide service delivery lead role and change management to area of responsibility and wider MHSW service as appropriate.
  • To lead and support the development of MHSWs within are of responsibility to ensure excellence in all areas of practice including DCMH / Network Safeguarding Lead.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for the full list of duties.

Selection Process:

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

CV:

  • Please ensure you demonstrate that you have the required skills, knowledge, experience, qualifications and memberships in the CV section of the application form.
  • Please provide information of how you meet the criteria set out in the Job Description. You may wish to further include examples of how you have tackled similar tasks or demonstrated the skills outlined in the job advert.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

At interview youwill be assessed against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

  • Leadership
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Changing and Improving
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace

At the interview candidates will be given a case scenario which will be measured against one of the behaviours.

The interview may consist of a mix of direct questions and clinical situation-based scenarios.

The sift will be completed within10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview.

Please see the link to our YouTube channel for advice preparing your best responses with some hints and tips on answering behaviour-based questions. Hints and tips such as: Your behaviours can be based on situations from work, volunteering or home, match your situation to the behaviour requested and how to use your 250-word limit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpdNWKQSRI

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards the level of attendance. applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.

All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check.

If found successful for this position, you will be required to provide evidence of your immunity to Hepatitis B. Please note that evidence of your vaccination is not a proof of your immunity, but your serology levels will be required. Failure to provide sufficient evidence may result in the offer of employment being withdrawn.

To be considered for this role, qualifications and memberships detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application.

There is no requirement to deploy as this is met by our uniformed personnel, but you will form the continuity of care required by our patients when based at home.

The post does NOT offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non-Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact dbscivpers-sgdmsresourcing@mod.gov.uk.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

Person Specification

Behaviour Statement

Essential

  • Have you been dismissed for gross misconduct relating to bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation from any role in the past five years, or resigned or otherwise left a role but would have been dismissed for such gross misconduct because of an adverse decision, had you continued in that employment?
  • Please respond with Yes or No as appropriate.

Registrations and Memberships

Essential

  • Registered with either Social Work England (SWE), Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), Care Council for Wales (CCW) or Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
  • Please provide your membership registration number. You are required to be registered with the relevant professional body, as detailed in the advert, prior to submitting your application.
  • Your application will not progress should you fail to provide a valid membership registration number.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Social Work or equivalent Diploma in Social Work (DipSW)/ Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW).
  • Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) must hold or have previously held AMHP/Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) OR Mental Health Officer Status (MHO) in Scotland / OR Significant and proven experience in the management and supervision of staff within a mental health social care/NHS CMHT (Community Mental Health
  • Team) environment.
  • Full driving licence.

Experience

Essential

  • An understanding and working knowledge of all relevant social care legislation MCA (05) In Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) (LPS), Care Act 14, the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) (98) Adult and Children Safeguarding Policies.
  • Must have significant and proven experience in the management and supervision of staff within a social care/NHS environment.
  • Experience of multi-professional team working in a clinical environment.
  • Experience of managing a caseload of complex cases.
  • Robust clinical skills, including strong assessment and care planning skills, including risk and mental state.
  • Proven risk assessment and management skills.
  • Working knowledge of NHS/Local Authority (LA) care planning and Care Programme Approach (CPA) processes.
  • Experience of collaborating and working with other external and internal agencies.
  • Experience of providing leadership and staff development.
  • Experience and evidence of contributing to service delivery, improvement and implementing new procedures.
  • Experience of undertaking clinical audits to monitor performance and clinical activity.
  • Driving licence

Provide a CV

Essential

  • Please copy and paste your full CV as your response to this question - you will not be able to upload your CV as an attachment.
  • Please ensure to refer to the essential criteria where applicable as your application may be rejected should insufficient information to shortlist be included.
  • Please use double spacing where possible.
Person Specification

Behaviour Statement

Essential

  • Have you been dismissed for gross misconduct relating to bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation from any role in the past five years, or resigned or otherwise left a role but would have been dismissed for such gross misconduct because of an adverse decision, had you continued in that employment?
  • Please respond with Yes or No as appropriate.

Registrations and Memberships

Essential

  • Registered with either Social Work England (SWE), Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), Care Council for Wales (CCW) or Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
  • Please provide your membership registration number. You are required to be registered with the relevant professional body, as detailed in the advert, prior to submitting your application.
  • Your application will not progress should you fail to provide a valid membership registration number.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Social Work or equivalent Diploma in Social Work (DipSW)/ Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW).
  • Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) must hold or have previously held AMHP/Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) OR Mental Health Officer Status (MHO) in Scotland / OR Significant and proven experience in the management and supervision of staff within a mental health social care/NHS CMHT (Community Mental Health
  • Team) environment.
  • Full driving licence.

Experience

Essential

  • An understanding and working knowledge of all relevant social care legislation MCA (05) In Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) (LPS), Care Act 14, the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) (98) Adult and Children Safeguarding Policies.
  • Must have significant and proven experience in the management and supervision of staff within a social care/NHS environment.
  • Experience of multi-professional team working in a clinical environment.
  • Experience of managing a caseload of complex cases.
  • Robust clinical skills, including strong assessment and care planning skills, including risk and mental state.
  • Proven risk assessment and management skills.
  • Working knowledge of NHS/Local Authority (LA) care planning and Care Programme Approach (CPA) processes.
  • Experience of collaborating and working with other external and internal agencies.
  • Experience of providing leadership and staff development.
  • Experience and evidence of contributing to service delivery, improvement and implementing new procedures.
  • Experience of undertaking clinical audits to monitor performance and clinical activity.
  • Driving licence

Provide a CV

Essential

  • Please copy and paste your full CV as your response to this question - you will not be able to upload your CV as an attachment.
  • Please ensure to refer to the essential criteria where applicable as your application may be rejected should insufficient information to shortlist be included.
  • Please use double spacing where possible.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services)

Address

Building V12,

Venning Barracks,

Donnington,

Shropshire,

TF2 8JT


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services)

Address

Building V12,

Venning Barracks,

Donnington,

Shropshire,

TF2 8JT


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Details

Date posted

06 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£46,040 a year (pro rata for part time) Market Skills Allowance £5000 pa (pr)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

K0003-26-0100

Job locations

Building V12,

Venning Barracks,

Donnington,

Shropshire,

TF2 8JT


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Ministry of Defence (Defence Medical Services)'s privacy notice (opens in a new tab)