Social Worker/Approved Mental Health Professional

About Us

North Somerset is an attractive, rural local authority area which includes the popular coastal towns of Weston-Super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead. Its coastline and the nearby Mendip Hills attract visitors from throughout the surrounding area. Bordering with Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) and Somerset, and with easy access from the M5, North Somerset is easily commutable from a wide range of nearby towns and cities, making it a highly desirable place to work.

North Somerset Council is dedicated to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are currently looking to recruit an enthusiastic and dedicated Social Worker/AMHP within the Recovery & Social Care integrated mental health service with North Somerset Council Adult Care and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust (AWP).

You will be a qualified AMHP or experienced social worker willing to undertake AMHP training. You will be working primarily with adults of working age with severe and enduring mental illness, and you will provide a strength-based social work perspective within a multi-disciplinary setting. You will be expected to undertake various duties, including Care Act (2014) assessments and reviews, best interest decision-making, capacity assessments, risk assessments, and provide social work as an intervention to maximise independence and wellbeing for the people in our service.

Working closely with other professionals and agencies, you will ensure people using our service receive an excellent standard of social care alongside their mental health care. You will work within key legislative frameworks such as the Care Act (2014), The Mental Health Act (1983) and the Mental Capacity Act (2005).

We would welcome applicants from experienced Social Workers/AMHPs and BIA's and may consider new qualified social workers with Mental Health experience. Salary will be determined based on experience. Level 7 is for newly qualified social workers, Level 8 represents the standard social worker grade, and Level 9 applies to Approved Mental Health Professionals.

Key Responsibilities:

• To work within the community MH Recovery team to provided support and intervention for people with severe and enduring mental illness within the remit of adult social care and AWP care coordination. To co-ordinate team around the person to promote mental wellbeing, reduce and mitigate risk and promote positive outcomes for service uses.

• To work with service users and families/carers to provide advice and support, assess risk and care needs of service users under the Care Act and S117 to develop a framework for care plans/programme of intervention to meet their needs, managing a complex caseload of service users.

• To carry out Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest decision making.

• To communicate effectively with multi-agency partners and service users within community and inpatient settings to manage and mitigate risk, facilitate safe discharge planning and ongoing interventions.

• To undertake a full range of social work tasks and statutory tasks, provide a strong social work presence and social care knowledge within the integrated team. You will be a role model for best practice and promote a strengths based approach with proportionate and least restrictive outcomes for service users.

• To provide timely review in line with AWP and N-Somerset organisational procedures/polices and statutory duties.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about working in Mental Health and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Vocational qualification or experience to at least level 4 or above, relevant to the service user group such as Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, Degree in Social Work or DipSW. Registered with Social Work England.

• Approved professional qualification relevant to the area of work and practical experience of working with service user groups giving rise to a variety of technical skills and thorough understanding of the principles of the services available, legal responsibilities, work practices and processes.

• Working Knowledge of The Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act and safeguarding vulnerable adults, as well as good general knowledge of Social Care to uphold Human Rights and promote least restrictive practice.

• Sound assessment skills and ability to analyse eligible needs and think creatively to meet needs under the Care Act and S117.

• Have strong social work values base din promoting choice, independence and wellbeing to engage with service users and partner agencies within the relevant codes of practice values.

• Ability to manage and prioritise challenging caseloads and statutory demands to meet agreed deadlines.

• Understanding and recognition of professional & personal boundaries.

• The ability to work within a fast paced integrated team and cope with the duties & responsibilities and with the associated working environment.

• Understanding financial constraints and monitoring budgets.

• Ability to travel widely throughout North Somerset and out of area.

• Willingness to train as AMHP in the future.

Desirable Criteria:

• Qualified AMHP/BIA

• PEPS qualified or experience with supporting social work students.

• Previous experience working in statutory Mental Health services.

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment.

We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits

• Flexible working arrangements

• Opportunities for professional development

• Staff groups

• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year

• Dedicated Wellbeing Team

• Salary sacrifice cycle to work and Electric vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet .

How to Apply

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Mel Williams, Integrated Mental Health Recovery Team Manager, at Melwilliams@nhs.net or 01934 523700.

Important Information

Interview Date: Friday 17th January 2025.

We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.