Senior Social Worker

Mental health services in Manchester are commencing their journey around Community Transformation. Working towards the new Community mental health framework, the vision is for a place-based community mental health model. We recognise that social work plays a pivotal role within this transformation. Social work is critical in upholding individuals' human rights, fostering a strengths and asset-based approach to an individual's mental health recovery; and is a key component to multi-disciplinary integrated working. As such, we are looking for a Senior Social Worker who is able to take up a lead role in supporting the teams to deliver high quality, person centred, strength-based specific social care duties, through empowering assessments and support for individuals within our Specialist Community Mental Health teams in North Manchester. If you are compassionate, hardworking and motivated, this is the role for you. We currently have a position at North Manchester Specialist CMHT based in our exciting new and modern base at the Central Park Hub.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be based within a community mental health team within Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. The post holder will support and supervise social workers in that area. The post holder will be an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) and will carry out the statutory duties of an AMHP in accordance with the relevant legislation, national and local policies and professional code of conduct. The post holder will be expected to maintain their AMHP status, to participate in the management of the AMHP duty system and to take part in the AMHP duty rota as required.

The post holder will hold a small number of highly complex cases and will also act as a social worker/AMHP consultant for team managers and the MDT on other highly complex cases as required.

The post holder will report to a CMHT Team Manager for day-to-day management. Professional social work supervision will be provided by the Divisional Lead for social care for North Manchester services. The post-holder will be required to provide AMHP/social work support, training and mentorship to newly qualified social workers and health colleagues within the Trust and they will also act as practice assessors for student AMHPs.

The post holder will aim at all times to promote the independence and well-being of adults of working age and/or older people, to assist social inclusion and valued community presence and to enable the widest possible expression of chosen lifestyle.

Job responsibilities

1. Advise and direct other social workers, team members and health colleagues regarding the requirements of the Care Act (2014), Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007), Mental Capacity Act 2005, and related codes of practice, and any other related legislation affecting the role and duties of a Social Worker/Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP).
2. Support and supervise other AMHPs within the division, offering specialist advice and direction regarding complex cases as required.
3. Act as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP), balancing the human rights of the service user within a legislative and statutory framework alongside the issues of risk and safety to achieve the least restrictive alternative, whilst offering protection to those who may be at risk of exploitation or harm.
4. Supervise and monitor the professional competence of social workers in their division reporting any concerns to the Divisional lead for social care and the relevant team manager.
5. Support the management and running of the AMHP Hub, developing and taking part on the rota as required, supporting the interface between day and night time services to improve access to assessment for service users.
6. If qualified, act as a Best Interest Assessor (BIA) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and take part in the BIA rota in partnership with the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) team and Manchester City Council. Assess and refer to the Court of Protection where necessary.
7. Assess and monitor complex mental health and social care needs of service users and carers, sharing information in an appropriate and secure manner using both electronic and paper-based systems. Produce a care plan to meet the highly complex needs of the individual, taking into account the perspective of carers, family members and friends as well as other members of the community, and where appropriate/possible making all decisions in conjunction with the individual. Commission/implement packages of care where appropriate and to support the care plan, promoting individual budgets in line with needs.
8. Where applicable, authorise control of service user finances through Client Financial Services/Appointeeship.
9. Provide all appropriate mental health and social care assessments and interventions according to service user recovery goals and carrying out all assessment, care planning and social work activity in line with Trust targets and objectives and within a Recovery Approach.
10. Hold a small number of highly complex cases requiring Care Act and legal input around MCA Assessments, BI Assessments, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Court of Protection where necessary.
11. Convene and attend meetings in accordance with S117 requirements and to lead and advise on ensuring social care aftercare provisions and legislative requirements under S117 are met.
12. Produce court reports as appropriate including Mental Health Tribunal reports and witness statements for Court of Protection. Support and advise colleagues in the production of their reports, including contributing to training as necessary.
13. Support CMHT in its applications to funding panel, providing advice and quality assurance of assessments.
14. Make every effort to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with service users, and where appropriate, carers/relatives of the service user referred to the Team and where appropriate provide support, assessment and general advice to those relatives/carers.
15. Act as lead and work in collaboration with other interested parties in the investigation of allegations of any form of abuse to vulnerable adults, families and children. Contribute to the development of an agreed protection plan for any vulnerable adult and to carry out interventions as are deemed necessary to promote the safety and protection of that adult. Chair s.42 safeguarding enquiries and support local services in ensuring robust processes are in place to manage safeguarding enquiries.
16. Have a working and applied knowledge of the Care Act (2014), the Mental Health Act (1983 as amended 2007), Mental Capacity Act (2005), as well as being acquainted with other legislation which may be relevant to the service group (e.g. Children Act 1989 and 2004), Human Rights Act (1998), Trust policies and procedures.
17. Act as a practice educator for social work students and support ASYE programme.
18. Participate in regular formal supervision and shared appraisal of work performance with the line manager and participate in regular professional supervision with the Divisional Lead for Social Care-South.
19. Support Division in its completion of RCAs, three-day reviews and complaints.
20. Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
21. Participate in Bronze of Site and Bronze on Call rota.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

• Registered Social Worker
• Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP)

Experience

• Advise and direct other social workers, team members and health colleagues regarding the requirements of the Care Act (2014) Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007), Mental Capacity Act 2005, and related codes of practice, and any other related legislation affecting the role and duties of a Social Worker/Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP).
• Support and supervise other AMHPs within the division, offering specialist advice and direction regarding complex cases as required.
• Act as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP), and support the management and running of the AMHP Hub.
• Hold a small number of highly complex cases requiring Care Act and legal input around MCA Assessments, BI Assessments, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Court of Protection where necessary.
• Provide all appropriate mental health and social care assessments and interventions according to service user recovery goals and carrying out all assessment, care planning and social work activity in line with Trust targets and objectives and within a Recovery Approach.
• Convene and attend meetings in accordance with S117 requirements and to lead and advise on ensuring social care aftercare provisions and legislative requirements under S117 are met.
• Produce court reports as appropriate including Mental Health Tribunal reports and witness statements for Court of Protection. Support and advise colleagues in the production of their reports, including contributing to training as necessary.
• Support CMHT in its applications to funding panel, providing advice and quality assurance of assessments.
• Chair s.42 safeguarding enquiries and support local services in ensuring robust processes are in place to manage safeguarding enquiries.
• Have a working and applied knowledge of the Care Act (2014), the Mental Health Act (1983 as amended 2007), Mental Capacity Act (2005), as well as being acquainted with other legislation which may be relevant to the service group.
• Act as a practice educator for social work students and support ASYE programme.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.