Mental Health Social Worker
“There has never been a better time to join North Somerset Council's Mental Health Services! We are ranked number 1 nationally in this year's Local Government Association Social Work Health Check by the social workers in our teams”.
About North Somerset
North Somerset is an attractive and largely rural local authority area which includes the popular coastal towns of Weston-Super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead. Its beautiful coastline and the nearby Mendip Hills attract visitors from throughout the surrounding area and beyond. 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.
We are committed to ensuring workloads are safe and manageable, and that all practitioners receive excellent reflective supervision. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, North Somerset Council Adult Services ranked number 1 in the South West. With Mental Health Social Care officially ranked as number 1 nationally this year in the Local Government Association Social Work Health Check.
North Somerset Council recognises the importance of wellbeing and work-life balance. We therefore offer competitive rates of pay, a generous leave package, flexible working arrangements, an employee assistance service and the opportunity to join a generous pension scheme.
Maximising Independence and Wellbeing
North Somerset Council (NSC) recognises the unique contribution Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Adult Social Care Workers make. We use our specialist knowledge and skills to help people who draw on care and support to maximise their independence and wellbeing. We aim make a real difference to people’s lives.
About the role
We are looking for a permanent full time social worker to be based within the Mental Health Social Care Team, which is an integrated mental health service with North Somerset Council Adult Care and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust (AWP).
You will be a qualified social worker, 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 AMHPs and new qualified social workers.
Professional Development Opportunities
Professional practice within NSC is overseen by a dedicated Principal Social Worker and Principal Occupational Therapist. To support practitioners in their roles, we are continuously improving our learning and development offer. We have secured organisational membership with Research in Practice, and we collaborate with a range of higher education institutions to provide outstanding career development opportunities. We will support you in your career, whether you are an unregistered adult social care worker looking to gain a professional qualification, a newly qualified professional wishing to undertake their first year in employment, or an experienced professional looking to specialise in areas such as management, practice education, or become an Approved Mental Health Professional or Best Interests Assessor. We also host annual professional conferences with the purpose of celebrating our professions and highlighting examples of innovation and good practice at local and national levels.
About you
The successful candidate will:
- Have knowledge of the effects that mental ill health can have on people in our communities
- Be educated to degree level and be registered with Social work England
- Have strong social work values based in promoting choice, independence and well-being
- Be skilled in verbal and written communication with the people who use our service, their families and other professionals
- Be proficient and confident in using a wide variety of IT packages
Come and work for us!
We are currently recruiting ambitious and innovative Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and Adult Social Care Workers who are seeking to maximise the independence and well-being of the people we support in a variety of teams.
If you are interested in working for a local authority which truly believes in the value of adult social care, please don’t hesitate to contact Richard Orson (Principal Social Worker for Adults) on 07776170122 or Jo Hopkins (Principal Occupational Therapist) on 07789 943017. For an informal discussion about this role contact the team manager Shelley Nathan 01934 523700.
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.
The office base in is Weston Super Mare
Valid driving licence and own transport, or suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.
Visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/jobs-training/council-jobs to download an application pack and apply online.
Anticipated interview date: Wednesday 25 October 2023
North Somerset Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sections of our community regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion, belief or sexual orientation. North Somerset Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
North Somerset Council – Open, Fairer, Greener.