The Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service

The Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service is a forward-looking, and progressive service providing high quality care to service users on their wards, through effective in-patient multi-disciplinary team-work, with ward-based Social Workers playing a pivotal role.

The forensic wards include Medium-secure Acute wards, Medium-secure Rehab wards, Low secure Units, and a Pre-discharge Unit, located across three sites – Littlemore, Oxford; Milton Keynes; and Aylesbury, Bucks. This role will be based across one of our Low secure wards and our specialist Learning Disability ward, based at Oxford Clinic.

About the Role

We are looking for a highly motivated and resourceful, qualified and registered Social Work professional who is keen to utilise their skills, and experience, to bring the social care perspective into the forensic mental health In-patient setting, supporting service users in their recovery journey.

This role is ideal for an experienced Social Worker who is resilient, enjoys working as part of an MDT, and is sensitive to the recovery goals and needs of service users as they work towards their discharge from hospital. The work-setting will require flexibility, and ability to hot-desk.

This role includes an RSU allowance of £1,446 per annum on top of your salary.

Key Responsibilities

• Work within an inpatient ward as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
• Contribute to pre-admission assessments, particularly focusing on identifying any social issues that are relevant to the person's recovery, and general circumstances.
• Identify any potential barriers to discharge at the earliest possible stage, and work with others to help overcome these.
• Provide support to the wider ward team in regard to both children’s and adult safeguarding responsibilities.
• Contribute to the ongoing care planning for in-patients, and work with partner organisations and the wider MDT to ensure risk is managed effectively. You'll be linking with relevant colleagues, Responsible Local Authorities and Integrated Care Boards to ensure that patients are assessed under the Care Act 2014 and that their 'Section 117' needs are determined in a timely manner, to facilitate effective discharge, in collaboration with the patient and their family.
• Contribute to various statutory forums including Mental Health Tribunals, Mental Health Act Hospital Managers’ Hearings and Care and Treatment Reviews.
• Demonstrate the skills to maintain their Social Work professional identity and ability to assert the social perspective when working within an inpatient environment.