Social Worker or Advanced Social Worker

As a Social Worker or Advanced Social Worker within an integrated mental health team, you will play a vital role in supporting individuals with severe and enduring mental health needs, as well as those who care for and support them. 

Working alongside individuals, you will help them identify their needs, build on their strengths, and develop tailored support plans that enable them to achieve their personal goals and live as independently as possible. 

• Reporting to the Team Manager within Avon and Wiltshire Partnership (AWP) Trust, you will assess needs, plan interventions, and coordinate, deliver and review services for people with serious mental health needs, as well as their carers and support networks. 
• Working collaboratively within an integrated health and social care model, you will build effective partnerships with a wide range of agencies and professionals to coordinate and implement support that promotes independence and complies with the Mental Health Act, Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, departmental policies, and locally agreed procedures.
• You will work closely with individuals, families and carers to maintain independence wherever possible and ensure outcomes are clearly defined, monitored, and reviewed.
• Using your expertise, you will provide person-centred, strengths-based support, focusing on what people tell us will make the biggest difference to them, using your skills and creativity to achieve the best outcomes.
• Part of the role may involve preparing reports for Mental Health Review Tribunals, attending tribunal hearings, and ensuring all relevant records and client record systems are maintained accurately and kept up to date.

• It is essential that you hold a degree in social work and be registered with Social Work England.
• We are looking for someone with substantial post-qualification experience, ideally gained within mental health services. You will have a thorough understanding of relevant legislation, policy and legal frameworks, including the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding.
• You will have a strong understanding of recovery principles and the role of secondary mental health services in supporting individuals with complex needs, alongside experience of undertaking carers’ assessments, assessing risk, and developing risk management strategies.
• Given the nature of this work, you will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, enabling you to build positive and effective relationships with people at all levels, including when a more assertive approach is required. You will also have strong active listening skills, enabling you to check understanding and adapt your approach as needed.
• Familiarity with the 'Your Team Your Conversation Your Plan’ process would be advantageous, however full training will be provided.

• There is an option within this role to go forward for AMHP training, but this is not an expectation and will depend on the needs of the service. 

• To be considered for the Advanced Social Worker position, your evidence must be clearly detailed in your application. The salary is offered at points within these bands depending on experience: 
  • Social worker: £36,363 - £39,152
  • Advanced Social worker: £40,777- £44,075
• The salary for being AMHP qualified is £45,091 - £48,226.
• You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.  
• Business insurance will need to be added to your insurance policy and you can claim back mileage expenses. 
• Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained. 
• This is a hybrid role, but you will be primarily based at either the Kingswood or Thornbury office (your preferred location can be discussed at interview) or working within the community. There will also be occasional opportunities to work from home.

Interviews are likely to be held on 9th September.

• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.  
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.    
• If you want to develop a specialism, you’ll get the support you need and your cases will be aligned with your areas of expertise.   
• Seniors and managers will genuinely listen at panel and will support you to ensure your service user’s needs are met.   
• What’s special here is the strength of the team ethos. We are a relatively small local authority, so managers know staff well. They can plan their services to ensure teams have manageable caseloads and have effective supervision so feel supported to make decisions which are right for the children and young people they work with.   
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.  

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.   

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.    
• We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life.    
• We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.     

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.      

We’re making a difference, be part of it!     

To view the full job description, please click this link: Social Worker Adult Mental Health - Job Descripton  Advanced Social Worker Adults - Job Description