Social Worker - Older People's Mental Health

Location West Sussex
Salary £33.00 - £35.50 per hour
Discipline
Description :
The OPMH team work with people over 65 years of age who have a mental health diagnosis, or people of any age who have a diagnosis of dementia. We are a specialist team, so the nature of cases we work with are complex in relation to social care needs, risk management, and legal challenges (COP hearings, LPA matters, best interest decisions and DOLS challenges) Use of the Mental Capacity Act is a priority in our work, in relation to best interest decisions, and empowering people to have autonomy in their lives. The team is made up of 2 senior practitioners, a variety of social workers and assistant care managers. The team are very friendly and welcoming, and help each other out with covering duty, supporting in difficult circumstances, and sharing knowledge and expertise. We work closely with professionals in the mental health trust and carry out joint work where appropriate.
You will work as part of a strong and dynamic social work service. In this role you will be required to undertake strengths-based assessments applying relevant legislation utilising social work skills and knowledge to develop and implement a plan of support, aimed at improving wellbeing and delivering outcomes for people as well as contributing to and developing skills in safeguarding.
You will manage a caseload collaborating with people and family or friend carers, undertake strengths-based assessments and reviews, identifying eligible needs and personalised outcomes. You will be working within a supportive environment to apply your social work skills to develop and implement support plans, aimed at improving wellbeing and delivering outcomes, including utilising community assets, and ensuring that eligible needs are met. You will be working within a managed and supportive context, applying learning to further develop capability, and professional confidence. You will be supported with professional supervision and assessment and a workload that is appropriate to your level of professional development.
You will work effectively in partnership with other staff and voluntary agencies and have a good understanding of all the relevant health, voluntary and private services in the area. You will strive to remain up-to-date and compliant with all relevant legislation and adhere to organisational procedures, policies, and codes of conduct as well as Social Work England professional standards to uphold a high-quality, seamless service.
You will possess the ability to communicate effectively, have compassion and empathy to support people who access our services, and be able to manage your own health and well-being due to the emotional demands of the role. You will have a good theoretical, practical, and procedural knowledge of social work, and a good understanding of the necessity of working with partnership agencies including health, housing, education and statutory, voluntary and independent agencies. There will also be a requirement for you to work flexibly using your
own initiative where appropriate to support people, carers, and families. You will be required to travel throughout the County including to locations that are not always easily accessible by public transport.
You will be required to evidence sound knowledge through your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and readiness to work towards a specialist post-qualifying award (e.g., Practice Educator, Approved Mental Health Professional or Best Interest Assessor). You will be able to provide informal supervision for unregistered social care practitioners, including mentoring and coaching of students and apprentices.