• Job Description

  Req#: B0354-25-0033?language=en&page=109&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Do you want to make a real difference advocating for people with complex mental health needs within a hospital setting?

  Lead Social Worker

  Location:North Benfleet, Essex

  Hours: full time

  12 month fixed term contract

  You can achieve more at St Andrews Healthcare

  Our focus is transforming lives through ground breaking treatment and rehabilitation, with surpluses re-invested in our outstanding facilities.

  Your role with us

  You will be part of the leadership team within the Division and a key contributor to the operational and strategic direction of the division and the social care team.

  Were looking to recruit an experienced Social Worker to lead our Essex Social Care team and ensure the delivery of professional advice, supervision and support to the team. You will undertake on-going review of the delivery of the social work services and service needs to ensure we are delivering the best possible outcomes to patients within our care.

  You will hold a protected case load, including complex and high risk individuals. You will develop and define social work roles and tasks, policies and procedures for St Andrews Healthcare and set good practice standards benchmarked against Professional Capabilities Framework and Social Work England guidance and incorporate up to date legislation and guidance into practice.

  Main duties of the job

  You will provide clinical and management supervision to the social workers and social care assistants and lead regular social work team meetings providing professional expertise and positive role modelling.

  You will take an active part in service strategy, governance and management meetings by analysing & providing performance data and ensuring quality assurance activity is in place.

  You will support the social care to manage safeguarding incidents and referrals which adhere to local safeguarding board procedures and are within statutory timescales

  You will monitor the quality and administration of paperwork and computer records in line with St Andrews Healthcare current policies and will be working in partnership with outside agencies, organisations, patients and carers/families.

  You will work in partnership with our multi-disciplinary teams (including Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Nursing and other Allied Health Professions) to provide holistic individualised treatment plans, and work directly with our patients on their recovery journey. Taking the lead with carer engagement and involvement ensuring that families are part of the team. You will become an expert in mental health legislation and practice, giving evidence at Tribunals and taking the lead on safeguarding.

  As a Charity with a focus on Education, Research and Training, we offer access to ASYE, Practice Educator course, Social Work forums.

  About us

  As a Charity with a focus on Education, Research and Training, we offer access to ASYE, Practice Educator course, Social Work forums, and have strong links with the University of Northampton and local teaching partnerships.

  About Us

  We are St Andrew's. We are a mental health Charity and our purpose is to inspire hope for those living with complex mental health needs.

  We are looking to a future with less stigma, more community support, more research and education, and we aim to be at the forefront of inspiring real change. We want to ensure we can all live in a society where everyone with complex mental health needs is heard, valued and has hope for their future.

  Come and join us, and support us to help people transform their lives.

  St Andrews Healthcare Social Workers must be registered with Social Work England and there will be opportunities for training to ensure registration. In addition, there will be regular supervision, an annual performance review and opportunities for development.

  Our patients and your colleagues will expect you to live the St Andrews CARE values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence every single day.

  You will also be part of a great team, giving you plenty of exposure to mentoring and coaching and extensive opportunities for continuing professional development, training, and career progression.

  If you feel this is you then wed love you to apply here.

  Interviews: TBC

  Details

  Date posted

  23 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 8a

  Salary

  £53,782 to £56,480 a year 35 days holiday, and benefits

  Contract

  Fixed term

  Duration

  12 months

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours

  Reference number

  B0354-25-0033

  Job locations

  St. Andrews Healthcare Essex

  Pound Lane

  North Benfleet

  Wickford

  Essex

  SS129JP

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Rewards

  We offer an excellent benefits package including: Pension; Sickness policy on par with the NHS; Access to the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts schemes; 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), increasing to 33 after 10 years' service; Buy and Sell your Annual Leave; Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme; Menopause Group; Life cover; Electric car lease scheme; Cycle to work scheme; Free parking; onsite gym and swimming pool facilities; Paid DBS application; Access to free vocational qualifications.

  For an informal discussion around the role and opportunity please contact jcfarrelly@stah.org or 07827856634

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Rewards

  We offer an excellent benefits package including: Pension; Sickness policy on par with the NHS; Access to the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts schemes; 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), increasing to 33 after 10 years' service; Buy and Sell your Annual Leave; Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme; Menopause Group; Life cover; Electric car lease scheme; Cycle to work scheme; Free parking; onsite gym and swimming pool facilities; Paid DBS application; Access to free vocational qualifications.

  For an informal discussion around the role and opportunity please contact jcfarrelly@stah.org or 07827856634

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • The successful candidate will hold a recognised Social Work qualification and a post qualifying qualification. You will have relevant post experience and be registered with Social Work England (SWE).

  Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of working in Mental Health, Mental Capacity Legislation and Safeguarding Adults Legislation is essential as you would be expected to undertake a range of complex assessments and investigations
  • Detailed knowledge and experience of working under pressure with complex legal issues is also essential
  • You will have good communication and interpersonal skills and a desire to develop others

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • The successful candidate will hold a recognised Social Work qualification and a post qualifying qualification. You will have relevant post experience and be registered with Social Work England (SWE).

  Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of working in Mental Health, Mental Capacity Legislation and Safeguarding Adults Legislation is essential as you would be expected to undertake a range of complex assessments and investigations
  • Detailed knowledge and experience of working under pressure with complex legal issues is also essential
  • You will have good communication and interpersonal skills and a desire to develop others

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  St Andrew’s Healthcare

  Address

  St. Andrews Healthcare Essex

  Pound Lane

  North Benfleet

  Wickford

  Essex

  SS129JP

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.stah.org (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  St Andrew’s Healthcare

  Address

  St. Andrews Healthcare Essex

  Pound Lane

  North Benfleet

  Wickford

  Essex

  SS129JP

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.stah.org (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

Notice