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Job overview

Forensic Social Worker

Employed by BSMHFT supporting the safe discharge of patients from secure hospitals including Reaside Clinic, Tamarind Centre, Hillis Lodge Ardeleigh, and St Andrews Healthcare.

Forensic Intensive Support Team have exciting opportunities for experienced Mental Health Social Workers to deliver a statutory social work service to mentally disordered offenders.

Vacancies exist for  experienced mental health social workers (two years post qualifying).  

Forensic social workers provide statutory social work to restricted community patients under the Ministry of Justice.

The forensic service is working in a climate of change so requires flexible working practices including working across sites. 

You will be joining a Multi-Disciplinary Team providing forensic services within the West Midlands area. 

You will have knowledge of Mental Health Social Work and the legal framework of the Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007), Criminal Justice and safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.

You will have regular supervision and opportunities for professional development.

You must be registered with Social Work England and hold a relevant Social Work qualification.

Candidates should have the ability to uphold anti-discriminatory social work practice and maintain clear boundaries in clinical and professional relationships.

Main duties of the job

To undertake the roles and responsibilities of a Social Supervisor in line with Ministry of Justice guidelines.

To support the effective risk management of service users

Attend Tribunals / Managers hearings under the Mental Health Act 

To provide expertise in social care to multi-disciplinary teamwork in the service users discharge planning and secure care pathway.

To working with individual service users to reach their recovery goals

To  support  families and carers in the secure care pathway

Forensic social workers bring a social perspective when contributing to assessments of service users’ needs incorporating principles of diversity, equality, and human rights.

Working for our organisation

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.  Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year.  We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community.  If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people’s lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Our Trust is committed to treating individuals fairly and ensuring they have the same opportunities to fulfil their potential, even if this means doing things differently for different people sometimes. We are working hard to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity within Birmingham and Solihull and that our services meet the needs of all diverse service users and carers.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of our safe recruitment practice pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. As part of the selection process you may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, however all cases of criminal record history are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Please note, if applicable for your role you will be required to cover the cost of your DBS certificate. This will be deducted from your salary over 3 months. You will also be required to sign up to the DBS Update Service before commencement with the Trust.

All successful applicants will be required to complete the Trust’s induction programme. The Fundamental (Statutory and Mandatory) training will be in an e-learning format. You will be required to complete training modules online (approx. 9-14 hours depending on post) by the end of your first week with us.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process we may contact you via email to advise you of the interview details. Please ensure you access your email account from which you applied regularly once the position has closed.

If applicable to your role, the Trust will require you to sign up for the DBS Update Service. The subscription will cost you £13 a year but the Trust will reimburse this. You will be contractually obliged to maintain your subscription.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 1. It is vital that you provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, check if you’re eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. It’s cheaper to apply for and you do not need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.

Relocation expenses may be reimbursed subject to eligibility. The policy provides for reimbursement up to £8,000.