Welcome from our Chief Executive

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Senior Social Worker to join our Assessment and Treatment Service in Crawley. As a member of the Leadership Team, you will provide specialist social work knowledge to a multi-disciplinary team and provide specialist assessment, treatment and care to a caseload of people with a range of mental health problems from the local community.

• You will work as part of a strong and dynamic member of the Leadership Team.
• You will be required to undertake strengths-based assessments in highly complex situations,
• You will be the main liaison with Acute Services and Urgent Care.
• You will maintain a sophisticated understanding and application of relevant legislation, social work skills and knowledge.
• You will utilise your skills to develop and implement effective plans of support aimed at improving wellbeing and delivering better outcomes for people, as well as contributing to and developing the team knowledge and understanding of social care.

You must be enthusiastic, self-motivated, flexible and able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible and provide effective leadership as a part of a leadership team. To provide specialist social work knowledge and guidance for a clinical team providing a high quality service within the resources available within a defined area, and specifically to deliver on the following key areas: Where required, take the role of practice educator for social work students and the role of ASYE assessor and supervisor for newly qualified social workers in the team. To be a key link with local authority partners and Acute Services/nurturing and maintain good relationships to ensure the best outcomes for service users. To engage with the social work professional network in SPFT: attending forums and supporting professional supervision and CPD for social workers within this setting. To keep up to date with current regional and national social work-related developments and share these with the team as appropriate

Working for our organisation

What you will receive from us:

• Regular Line Management and Professional supervision
• Access to a wide range of Training and CPD opportunities including;
• The opportunity to participate in a range QI work and service innovations
• Varied leadership development opportunities

Effective communication and leadership skills, a sound clinical knowledge base and a commitment to caring for patients in the community must be demonstrated.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Knowledge and Skills:

• Expert assessment and care planning skills
• Expert knowledge in relation to all of the following regardless of specialism: Care Act, MH Act, MCA, Equality Act, Human Rights Act, for all roles.
• Expert knowledge in relation to safeguarding: identifying and raising concerns, and in local procedures and processes.
• Understanding social determinants of health (i.e. relationships, financial security and employment), and the potential to have a role for linking in with services and initiatives (i.e. community mental health framework) that aim to support people to overcome these.
• Understanding of relevant psychological theories and their application: i.e. attachment theory though the lifespan and the impact that abuse can have on development and health outcomes, and
• Use of advanced relationship-based skills - warmth, empathy and genuineness - to help people define and reach their own goals.
• Use of effective social models in mental health - tackling the social determinants of health and wellbeing and addressing the social trauma that underlies a lot of mental health need
• Good understanding of the Professional Capability Framework and the Knowledge and Skills Frameworks for both adults and children. Understanding of the role of PCF and KSF in Social Work education and professional development.
• Good understanding of the requirements of the respective ASYE programmes for adults and children's services
• PEPS2 qualified with experience in practice educator role
• Experience of working as an educator within the ASYE framework

• To coordinate and lead team functioning with particular focus on;
• Management of referrals including delivery of care
• Performance monitoring and management
• Line Management and supervision of staff.
• Ensure that a culture of effective risk management is present in the team
• To carry a clinical caseload as agreed with service manager and to take a lead on management of complex cases and supporting staff in management of such cases.
• To ensure that the team functions in line with the care group core business.
• To coordinate recruitment and selection of staff within the team, leading on decisions as designated by the service manager.
• To respond to SUIs as appropriate and support any subsequent investigation
• To respond to SVAs as appropriate
• To respond to complaints
• To respond to communications regarding team issues
• To ensure equality and diversity is considered in all aspects of the teams business.
• At all times supporting the Trust's reputation and that of all senior colleagues, maintaining a positive attitude with strong commitment to results.

Practice Development (including professional development of others)

• To utilise specialist Social Work knowledge to provide specialist training and advice to other professionals, students and agencies.
• To manage and supervise other members of the team.
• To chair meetings and provide cover for the Service Manager as needed.
• To organise consultation groups and to facilitate reflective practice for staff to promote skills and development of team.
• To support registered staff and students through preceptorship/mentorship.
• Research and Development
• To develop teaching and training sessions for staff and professionals on specialist subject areas relevant to care group.
• To develop service pathways for clients in care group and contribute to ongoing development of service.
• To undertake research, service evaluation and clinical audits.
• To use research in practice and developing research work from ones own practice
• Governance - including quality , standards, documentation & ethics
• To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist reports relevant to practice setting.
• To keep accurate and timely electronic records of each contact, using software programmes used by the Trust. Complete outcome measures as required.
• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
• To contribute in the Trust and professional clinical and social care governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.
• To be aware of and work to the policies and procedures within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
• To apply national guidelines/ legislation relating to health and social care in mental health service provision.
• To participate in clinical and social care governance care group forums as required.
• To ensure performance targets and standards are met.
• To complete clinical outcome measures as required eg HoNOS.
• To ensure that professional nursing standards of practice are maintained within the clinical setting.
• To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained amongst junior staff.
• To seek and attend monthly clinical supervision.

Staff leadership and management

• To provide effective leadership and management to staff which promotes high performance standards both individually and as a team, in the achievement of the Trust's objectives and priorities. The Trust's success will be dependent on all managers playing an active role to make sure the existing areas of good employment practice are universally embedded within the organisation. Managers will be expected to:
• Understand the Trust's key priorities and those of your care group and translate these into key priorities for your care group
• Ensure clarity and effectiveness in developing and designing roles
• Ensure management of staff is consistent with Trust's HR Policies to the achievement of equality, equity and optimum performance.
• Complete annual Appraisals for all staff which reflect these priorities and ensure staff have access to appropriate training and development
• Communicate regularly through meetings with teams and individuals and provide opportunity for two-way feedback
• Promote an effective team ethos.
• Promote equality, diversity and rights, and treat others with dignity and respect ensuring services are developed, managed and delivered to meet the specific needs of those belonging to protected characteristics.
• Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices by developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and contributing to developing equality of opportunity and outcomes in working practices.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are followed.
• Ensure that colleagues are treated fairly. Behave in a non-discriminatory way and challenge the discriminatory behaviour of others. Be supportive of colleagues or service users who wish to raise issues about discriminatory practice or experience.

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Recognised social work qualification (Degree/MA in Social Work)

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.