Job summary
West London NHS Trust have successfully established aRough Sleeping Team - who works with rough sleepers with mental health needs across 3 London Boroughs - we are recruiting staff to the Multi - Disciplinary Team.
An opportunity has been created for an experienced Social Worker to join this new Team and play a key part in its development and response to the needs of rough sleepers who have mental health and physical health difficulties. The service will work across the tri Borough area of Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow and will be working closely alongside our principal partners, St Mungo's Outreach Service and Local Authority Homelessness Departments.
Alongside an exciting and fulfilling role in a valued environment, we also offer:
- A supportive environment to develop clinical skills
- Support towards career development and promotion opportunities within the Trust
- Annual leave buying and selling scheme
- Car lease scheme
- Childcare vouchers
- Discounted Gym membership
- Flexible working
- Staff discount
Main duties of the job
You will have good knowledge of or a willingness to learn about the various Housing, Hostel and other accommodation regulations ensuring there is good liaison with partners and providers. It is recognised that appropriate housing reduces considerably the likelihood of a return to the streets for most of our clients
The posts involves working flexible hours and will include occasional late night and or early morning shifts as required which enables us to access service users effectively in order to assess mental and physical health needs and engage successfully and pursue reconnection with health and appropriate accommodation services.
You will be expected to travel between the 3 boroughs and will be supporting with the hubs where you see a number of people in different locations to support them if they are sleeping rough. We will expect you to be flexible and willing to work with many stakeholders and voluntary organisations.
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 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
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.
Person Specification
Training/ Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification in Social Work and with current HCPC registration. Current AMHP qualification
Desirable
- Educated to degree or Diploma level with other courses relevant to primary care mental health services e.g. CBT, Brief Solution Focussed Therapy etc.
- RGN/physical health qualification
- Evidence of recent and ongoing relevant further professional development
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of post qualifying work in a mental health setting.
- Experience of supervising junior staff within own and/or other disciplines
Desirable
- Audit and research experience
- Experience of teaching/training in a formal or informal setting
- Experience of working in a primary care setting/ social care/ voluntary sector
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of counselling skills/cognitive behavioural skills, psychosocial interventions
- Knowledge of recovery approaches as used with those with mental health conditions
- Ability to interpret research and apply to practice
- Specialist knowledge of mental health conditions as well as their relationship to physical disorders
- Assessment and treatment of Deliberate Self Harm
- Risk assessment/management and crisis intervention skills
- Use of psychosocial assessment methods
- Higher level communication skills, both written and oral
- Ability to engage challenging and/or acutely distressed patients in potentially hostile and/or antagonistic situations and use de-escalation techniques effectively
- Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on an analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options, with senior clinical support/supervision
- Team/self management and organisation skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service
- Computer literate
Personal
Essential
- Ability to frequently work under pressure and maintain intense concentration, particularly in unpredictable situations where there will be exposure to highly distressed and/or disturbed patients, often exhibiting challenging behaviours and the risk of physical violence
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Commitment to equal opportunities
- Ability to accept constructive criticism
- Self motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence when required.
- Exercise initiative, flexibility and tact and self awareness
- Willing to use peer and group supervision creatively
- Be able to work flexibly if required
- Be aware of the limitations in your competencies and seek appropriate senior advice and leadership.
Desirable
- Personal experience of a mental health condition
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 .
Employer details
Employer name
West London NHS Trust
Address
Rough Sleepers & MH Service
Avenue House
London
UB2 4SD