Additionally, the Consultant Social Worker will engage in operational planning and service development, advocate for social work within the team, and monitor patient progress while addressing their individual needs. With a focus on evidence-based practice and collaboration with other agencies, the role aims to support patients in achieving their well-being and independence in the community while contributing to the overarching mission of Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust to lead in mental health and learning disability services.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Consultant Think Ahead Social Worker to join our Adult Community Mental Health Services Team in North Hertfordshire / Stevenage.
The area is well served with transport links to historic Hertfordshire and its glorious countryside as well as into London and beyond. We are looking for someone who is passionate about delivering care to Adults with mental health issues.
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
We can offer you a competitive salary, staff benefits package, excellent career development and training that comes from working for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT.We are on a "Good to Great" journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.
Please refer to the "Main Duties Of The Job", "Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities" sections and the Job Description and Person Specification documents attached elsewhere for full details.
a) Introduction
Think Ahead is a charity working in partnership with NHS and Local Authority Community MH Services to provide a route into adult mental health social work for graduates and career changers. The Consultant Social Worker (CSW) is employed by HPFT and share a caseload with a unit of six Think Ahead participants placed in an Adult Community Mental Health Service. Consultant Social Workers provide an outstanding practice learning experience, acting as role models for participants, whilst operating at senior social work level in a multi-disciplinary team.
b) Management Of the Think Ahead Unit
Responsible for cases allocated to the Think Ahead Unit. Ensuring that effective Social Work support is provided in each case in accordance with relevant legislation and local/national policy.
Acting as a role model for outstanding evidence-based social work practice to Think Ahead participants
c) General
To operate at senior social work level within a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring the delivery and development of effective and best quality services in accordance with the service operational policy and quality performance targets. To investigate and manage risk, undertake complex assessments,providing specialist mental health advice, support and interventions to staff, carers and patients and other agencies. To provide expert leadership regarding key legislation including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Safeguarding and other key elements of the Care Act.
About us
a) Development of a high-quality practice learning experience:
- Allocate work to participants and develop their practice skills in line with their learning needs.
- Work with line manager to ensure a sufficiently varied caseload, so that participants are best-placed to become practice-ready at the point of qualification.
- Provide individual supervision, weekly unit case discussion and ad hoc support to participants.
- Work closely with participants as they are exposed to varied and increasingly complex casework as their placement progresses.
- Promote a growing degree of autonomy in participants practice to ensure practice-readiness at the point of qualification, while retaining accountability for all cases held within the unit.
- Support participants to develop leadership qualities in practice.
- Be proactive in suggesting improvements to the CSW and participant experience as a part of Think Ahead feedback initiatives.
- Active engagement in coaching sessions with Think Ahead Practice Specialist.
- Act as an ambassador for Think Ahead within your organisation, raising awareness of the programme and of the models of intervention that comprise the Think Ahead curriculum, as well as supporting integration of the unit within the organisation.
b) Assessment and performance management:
- Formal assessment of written and practical work completed by Think Ahead participants on placement, including participant reports and regular direct observations of practice, according to Middlesex Universitys assessment timelines.
- Complete midway and final reports for each participant at each placement stage.
- Provide feedback to participants, addressing performance issues together with Academic Tutor.
c) Consultant Social Worker training programme:
- All Consultant Social Workers are required to attend teaching days on social interventions in mental health with the Think Ahead programme plus structured self-learning.
- There will be further teaching days for Consultant Social Workers on practice education and supervision (PEPS 1 and 2).
- There will be four CSW Development Days with tailored leadership training.
- Consultant Social Workers will also be required to complete assignments, direct observations with their academic tutor and other private study outside of teaching days towards their Post-Graduate Certificate in Advanced Social Work
d) General:
- To be a core member of the team, operating at senior social work level
- To provide a highly specialised range of social interventions relevant to the care group and have knowledge of evidence based models of practice.
- To deliver care in line with the CPA policy and to manage, as the lead practitioner, a caseload of clients with complex health needs. Sharing this case load with the Think Ahead participants.
- To work in partnership with the individual patient and their families and carers to ensure the delivery of the care plan, and to enable the development of a plan to facilitate their safety, promote their well-being and support independence and inclusion in the community. This may include working closely with partner agencies.
To develop care plans that meet the needs of the individual and their family/carers as appropriate and that are focused on strengths and are outcome based.
To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment and care in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
To work with carers and family members, offering carers assessments and providing support and information to them as indicated. Signposting to third sector agencies to ensure they receive appropriate advice and support. Advising them about the trigger around risk factors relating to the patient, within the boundaries of confidentiality.
To monitor; risk, progress and where necessary compliance including the patient views to their care and treatment and to work in partnership with the patient, family and carers.
- To carry out assessments of clients work/educational / vocational and housing needs/aspirations and ensure that these are met where appropriate.
- To carry out carers assessments or make referral to enable this and implement a plan of care accordingly.
- To work closely and in partnership with colleagues in other services within the Trust in a collaborative way, ensuring that decisions are made that ensure the best care for patients and that there is a seamless pathway.
- To signpost patients and carers to other services and make onward referrals to support identified needs.
- To develop professional networks and keep abreast of local resources; third sector partners, primary care, housing, education, social care and other statutory organisations in order to ensure that the patient is able to navigate the full health and social care system.
To promote awareness of the role of social work within the team and across the service
To apply highly specialist skills and knowledge in order to establish professional competence and fitness to practice.
To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio
Clinical Responsibility & Practice Governance
Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/ records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.
The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
Be aware of and adhere to Trust infection control policies and procedures.
Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
Participate in clinical and management supervision on a regular basis.
Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility
To provide expert leadership in relation to key legislation including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Safeguarding and other key elements of the Care Act.
The ability to act as a professional role model, demonstrate initiative, and engage others and enable them to achieve their goals.
Service Development and Improvement
- Participate in the operational planning, implementation of policy and service development within the team, leading on delegated projects
Communications
1. To communicate complex and sensitive information effectively both with colleagues and with patients and carers.
2. Key relationships:
Team Manager
The Think Ahead participants
The Think Ahead programme team and academic team
Professional
Maintaining own professional development through full participation in the Think Ahead programme.
Ensuring that Registration and revalidation is current and compliant with SWE regulations and guidelines.
Ensuring that supervision both clinical and management supervision are undertaken in line with Trust policies
Research and Development Activity
- Required to undertake regular R&D activity as appropriate.
- Participate in the operational planning, implementation of policy and service development within the team, leading on delegated projects
General
The post holder must at all times carry out his/her duties with regard to Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Equal Opportunities Policy.
The post holder will be required to attend internal and external meetings as agreed by the line manager and the Deputy Director of Social Work.
To be aware of the responsibilities of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff.
All post holders must adhere to the code of conduct on confidentiality and be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
This job description is intended only as a guide to the range of duties involved. The post holder will need to be flexible and adaptable in order to respond to other duties that may be required from time to time and the changes and developments within the Trust.
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