Social Worker (Experienced)

The post-holder will be based at GMRC but work alongside TRC and MASH women’s services and Greater Manchester Pathfinder partnership, with service users who have experienced sexual trauma, but who present with additional complex mental health needs. They will work with service users in partner organisation settings and in the community, working collaboratively with individuals, carers and partners from local multi-agency providers and services, to assess and identify social care needs that may be potential barriers to the client being able to address their sexual trauma.

The post holder will provide guidance, leadership and consultation on social care legislation and policy to the team and to other areas of mental health services, including joint working where appropriate. They will contribute to developing and maintaining high standards of decision making and professional practice in the field of social work. The post holder will be responsible for a caseload of service users under the care of the Pathfinder Partnership, supporting them in their recovery journey. They will provide specialist social work interventions to service users and their carers/families, and involve them in all planning, helping to develop social resilience, motivation and daily living skills.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• The post holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary team providing recovery focused and goal orientated interventions.
• To provide expert advice and consultation to the team for all social care matters.
• The post holder will be conversant with legal duties under the Mental Health Act (1983), Mental Capacity Act (2005) including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Care Act (2014) including eligibility and safeguarding duties.
• Have a sound understanding of duties in relation to safeguarding children.
• To attend all clinical team meetings and undertake analysis related work.
• Understand multi-agency information sharing in the interest of public protection and MAPPA procedures.
• Have an understanding of the Triangle of Care principles and to offer support to carers in line with the Care Act (2014).
• Be conversant with Part 3 MHA and section 117 aftercare arrangements.
• To understand, respect and work within protected characteristics of Equalities Act (2010).
• Participate in service improvement, quality improvement initiatives and audits as required.
• To attend MDT case conferences and panel meetings.
• To provide professional social work support and advice to professionals in the multi-disciplinary team.
• Provide specialist advice to the team through knowledge of MHA, MCA, Human Rights Act (1998) including the interface between legislation.
• Deliver psychotherapeutic interventions with other members of the team.
• To communicate complex assessment information care and support planning and risk factors, to service users, carers, professionals, and the MDT as appropriate and in line with Information Governance.
• To support complex care planning in line with a strength-based approach and a commitment to asset-based community development.
• Communicate sensitive issues in a skilled and appropriate manner and address any barriers to participation and understanding.
• Communicate and articulate a wide range of information clearly, often in emotive or distressing situations.
• To organise and chair professional case conferences, multi-agency strategy meetings, best interest and safeguarding meetings as required.
• To contribute constructive suggestions as to how the service can be improved in own area of work, initiating projects and implementing and evaluating progress, seeking support to embed quality in areas beyond own role.
• To be an active participant in supervision, and in utilising reflective practice when learning to develop professional resilience and leadership skills in situations characterised by high levels of social and interpersonal challenges.
• Contribute to and participate in skills training, mentoring, supervision and reflective practice for other staff including qualified/student social workers, pathfinder workers and trainee psychologists/psychotherapists.
• Participate in the development and delivery of learning and educational materials.
• The post holder will be able to form therapeutic, meaningful relationships with clients/survivors and ensure they are actively involved in both the planning and delivery of their care.

This job description is not exhaustive but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process.

General Duties of all post holders

• To undertake any other reasonable duty, which is appropriate to the band, when requested by Senior Staff.
• To be familiar with and comply with all organisational GMRC, MASH and TRC and Pathfinder policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
• The post holder must ensure that their behaviour and interests inside and outside work do not conflict with their organisations position, duties and/or responsibilities.
• The post holder will be required to develop and maintain good working relationships with all patients, service users, staff, contractors and where appropriate, members of the public.
• The Pathfinder Partnership aims to maintain the goodwill and confidence of its own staff, patients, service users, and the public. To assist in achieving this objective it is always essential that the post holder carries out their duties in a courteous, sympathetic and professional manner.
• All post holders who are members of a professional body must comply with standards of professional practice/conduct. It is the post holders’ responsibilities to ensure they are both familiar with and adhere to these requirements and maintain their professional membership to the relevant body.

Equality and Diversity and Equal Opportunities

• The post holder must carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with organisational Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies, avoiding unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with colleagues, service users, members of the public and all other stakeholders.
• The post holder must promote awareness of and respect for equality and diversity in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure. It is the responsibility of all staff to report safeguarding concerns and familiarise themselves with who to contact in order to do this or seek further guidance.

Professional and Personal Development

The post holder will be expected to take responsibility for their own professional development and will be supported by the Partnership to achieve development opportunities as appropriate.

Confidentiality and Information Governance

Confidentiality is of prime importance. In the normal course of duties, the post holder will have access to confidential documents and information relating to patients, service users, staff and contractors, as well as information of a commercially sensitive nature. Such information should not be communicated to anyone outside or inside the charities and NHS unless done in the normal course of carrying out the duties of the post. Disciplinary action will be considered where a breach of confidence has been established. The post holder must maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date. The post holder must only access information, whether paper, electronic or in other media, which is authorised to them as part of their duties. The post holder must work to the requirements of data protection laws as applicable to the UK, which includes the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Health and Safety at Work

The post holder is required to take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work and to co-operate with the Trust in adhering to statutory and departmental safety regulations. The post holder is required to contribute to the control of risk and must report immediately, using the Trust Incident reporting system, any incident, accident or near miss involving patients, service users, carers, staff, contractors or members of the public.

Transport & Travel: Full driving licence and own car necessary.