About this role
Job summary
West London NHS Trust is one of the largest providers of mental health care in the country and a nationally recognised leader in secure and specialist mental healthcare. We deliver high-quality community forensic services across eight North West London boroughs and are proud that our Forensic Services have been rated Outstanding by the CQC.
This is an excellent opportunity to join us through a developmental ASYE Band 5 to Band 6 post, designed to support newly qualified Social Workers to grow into confident, skilled practitioners. You will benefit from structured development, strong clinical supervision, and clear progression into a Band 6 role.
We have also been selected by NHS England to pioneer an innovative and forward-thinking approach to supporting forensic service users in the community. Our Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT) plays a vital role in helping individuals transition safely from secure settings into the community, supporting recovery, improving quality of life, reducing inequalities, and offering hope to those who may have experienced long-term detention.
Join a dynamic and supportive service where you can make a real difference, develop your career, and be part of shaping the future of forensic social work.
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 providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK.
Our 3,982 staff care for people in hospital and in the community, helping them to recover and go on to lead full and productive lives. We aim to be the best organisation of our kind in the country.
We provide care and treatment for more than 800,000 people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, delivering services in the community (at home, in GP surgeries and care homes), hospital, specialist clinics and forensic (secure) units.
We'rerated good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Together, we're committed to promoting hope and wellbeing, working with patients, service users, carers, families and partners across the communities we serve.
We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.
Job description Job responsibilities
For the detailed job description and main responsibilities please refer to the file attached to this vacancy.
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
oDemonstrate an ability to undertake assessments of risk using specific risk assessment tools. oDemonstrate an ability to formulate implement and evaluate programmes of care for those individuals in the Community Forensic Service and those being referred. oDemonstrate an ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with clients who have a range of disorders that will include personality disorder dual diagnosis. oDemonstrate knowledge of actuarial and clinical risk assessment and how this might be applied to the management of clients. oDemonstrate knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act and its application to Mentally Disordered Offenders. oDemonstrate knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and its implication for the management of Forensic clients. oDemonstrate an ability to teach. oDemonstrate an ability to work with a range of organisations including Courts, Police and Probation, ministry of Justice. oDemonstrate good communication skills, especially listening, empathy, facilitation, persuasion, motivation, negotiation, education, and reassurance. oDemonstrate ability to lead projects and development of services oDemonstrate the ability to understand the role of the Community Forensic Service. oDemonstrate ability for cross cultural working ensuring whatever the cultural background of clients they are treated holistically. oDemonstrate an ability to manage stress and competing demands prioritising appropriately. oDemonstrate skills associated with good documentation. oAn ability to work as part of a team. oAbility to work in an autonomous manner.
Desirable
oDemonstrate ability to supervise staff oDemonstrate ability to lead on projects and audits. oDemonstrate a good understanding of CPA and its application. oDemonstrate 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).
Employer details Employer name West London NHS Trust
Address St Bernards
Southall
UB1 3HW
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)