Senior Social Worker - Mental Health (Older People & Adults)

Responsibilities include working as part of a combined Older People and Adults Social Care mental health service, liaising with staff who are Care Coordinators or equivalent in the mental health Trust. Responding to requests for Social Care interventions under the Care Act and other relevant legislation.

Key tasks involve:

• Offering advice and guidance for statutory MHA work and the social care agenda.
• Undertaking holistic strengths-based assessments under the Care Act.
• Formulating Care and Support plans that evidence a Person Centred approach.
• Ensuring appropriate care is delivered, regularly reviewing care plans, and adjusting services where necessary.
• Implementing Department Practice Model, evidencing choice and promoting independence.
• Encouraging residents to engage with their recovery.
• Initiating relevant initiatives, including those promoted by Public Health, to support residents in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing relapse.
• Competent use of Mosaic.
• Carrying out risk assessments and demonstrating risk management and positive risk-taking with regular reviews.
• Demonstrating effective communication with a range of agencies and professionals.
• Supporting residents to commission services through Self Directed Support and arranging appropriate statutory services.
• Providing required written and verbal evidence to funding Panels to seek funds for costed services.
• Presenting to housing panels to obtain sheltered accommodation, residential care, or part-purchased accommodation for service users.
• Having sufficient knowledge and awareness of medication impacts, cognitive changes, neurodiversity, and physiological changes in older age.
• Working with residents in crisis, including psychiatric crises, and collaborating with health colleagues.
• Writing social circumstances reports for Mental Health Review Tribunals and managers' hearings.
• Ensuring residents' social care needs related to mental health are met under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act.
• Participating in the team duty rota.
• Having a sound working knowledge of safeguarding and undertaking duties of an Enquiry Officer.
• Completing Carers assessments and implementing packages of care where required.
• Liaising with other agencies, both statutory and in the private and voluntary sector.
• Attending management and professional supervision regularly and participating actively in the supervision process.
• Attending team meetings, both Practice and Business, regularly.
• Ensuring equal opportunities are embedded in all areas of work.
• Working with residents and carers in the assessment process to help keep residents living at home safely.
• Undertaking functions of a Social Supervisor under the Mental Health Act as required.
• Participating in the Duty AMHP Service as a qualified AMHP.
• Building good working relationships with service providers and being involved in regular reviews of placements funded by LBM.
• Maintaining continuing professional development and keeping registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council up to date.
• Keeping AMHP practice and refresher training up to date and providing written reports for all assessments.
• Identifying residents appropriate for the Breathing Space initiative and implementing as directed.
• Carrying out functions under the Mental Capacity Act, including being a Best Interest Assessor regarding Deprivation of Liberty.