Social Work Lead

We're looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we're proud to make a difference every day. At SPFT we put people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You'll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development. We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it's part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we'll explore what works for you and the role. We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn't based on your real experience. Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we'll explore your examples further at interview, so it's important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page. We're shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we'd love to hear from you.Job overview An exciting opportunity to join the Forensic Healthcare Service at The Chichester Centre. Working with the multi-disciplinary team to identify and support family, friends and carers of patients throughout the care pathway with a particular understanding of the needs of this patient/carer group. The post will form part of the Forensic Healthcare Service's (FHS) Triangle of Care application for accreditation and ensure a consistently positive experience for carers, acknowledging their invaluable role and understanding the particular stresses often associated with involvement with Forensic Healthcare Services. We know that utilising carers' knowledge and skills improves the outcomes for patients and their families. We anticipate that a candidate with lived experience of caring for someone with significant mental health problems will be in the best position to take this post forward. The job will focus on identification of important individuals in patients' lives and ensuring that the Service is meeting their needs through signposting to/liaising with relevant support services, within the FHS and in their local areas, as well as providing individual support to carers and co-facilitating the carers' support group., Work with the multi-disciplinary team to identify and support family, friends and carers of patients of the Chichester Centre throughout the care pathway with a particular understanding of the needs of this patient/carer group. The post will form part of the Forensic Healthcare Service's (FHS) Triangle of Care and ensure a consistently positive experience for carers, acknowledging their invaluable role and understanding the particular stresses often associated with involvement with Forensic Healthcare Services. We know that utilising carers' knowledge and skills improves the outcomes for patients and their families. We anticipate that a candidate with lived experience of caring for someone with significant mental health problems will be in the best position to take this post forward., The job will focus on identification of important individuals in patients' lives and ensuring that the Service is meeting their needs through signposting to/liaising with relevant support services, within the FHS and in their local areas, as well as providing individual support to carers and co-facilitating the carers' support group. This may include advocating for carers at specific points as well as undertaking carer checklists, carer support plans and supporting carers with 'patient passports'. Liaison with patients' care teams will also be part of this critical role along with supporting the ward Carer Champions. Identifying and strengthening carers' partnerships with the Service to improve the support they receive. Another key element of the job will be organising carers' events for the Service and taking a lead on promoting the carer role within the Service e.g. involvement in the CPA review process and training other staff in carer awareness, as well as ensuring good information dissemination and gathering in relation to the carer experience so that we continue to improve our service provision to carers., The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

• NVQ level 4 in a relevant subject (e.g. Social Care, Health ) or Extensive clinical experience and evidence of professional development in the specific work setting the application is being made
• Care Certificate (or complete this within a reasonable time fame)
• Evidence of a commitment to lifelong learning, Experience of working with people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
• Experience running groups/activities
• Experience working as part of a team
• Experience of being supervised
• Experience of analysing and communicating complex information verbally and in writing, Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.
  
  Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPNFT) was formed in April 2006 and provides mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services to the people of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, West Sussex and parts of Hampshire. The trust published its latest clinical strategy in 2017 ('Our 2020 Vision') that sets out its vision for services. https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/our-clinical-strategy SPNFT was rated as 'Good' by the CQC in its most recent inspection report https://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/RX2
Sussex is a beautiful county with good access to National Parks, spectacular countryside, pristine beaches and vibrant cities. London is easily accessible by train from most parts of Sussex.