Experienced Social Worker - Community Mental Health Team

About the role

We are looking to recruit a dynamic and experienced Social Worker, with a passion and commitment for working within a community mental health service, to our team in Weymouth and Portland.

We work in an integrated team, working within a community setting alongside health colleagues supporting people with significant mental health needs and preparation into adulthood. We have a clear commitment of working within a recovery model, promoting a strengths-based and person-centred practice to support independence and enabling an individual to achieve their best outcomes.

We are a supportive and nurturing service and encourage and promote attendance on the Approved Mental Health Professional training.

For an informal chat about or to find out more about working within our Community Mental Health Teams please drop us a line at [email protected] and we will get straight back in touch.

What's in it for you:

We are an organisation with a strong commitment to a strengths-based approach in our relationships with customers and employees alike. We foster a vibrant, happy, and high achieving workforce.

As part of Dorset Councils Birth to Settled Adulthood we are also working alongside our colleagues in transitions to support people who have come to the attention of services.

We offer regular, reflective supervision that supports Continuous Professional Development.

We are an organisation that is proud of its robust learning and development offer. This includes access to the ASYE programme, mentoring and coaching, various external training including BIA, AMHP, access to RIPFA courses, Community Care Inform and internal training to support development in specific areas of practice.

• We promote career development.
• We offer access to wellbeing support and other support services.
• We offer generous relocation and retention packages.
• You will have access to the Local Government Pension scheme.
• We offer a minimum of 27 days holiday rising to 32 days after 5 years of continuous service and the option to purchase more.

What this video to find out more:

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What you can expect to be doing:

You will be undertaking strengths-based assessments, support planning and reviews to support customers to achieve their outcomes and promote their independence and work within a recovery model.

• You will undertake Mental Capacity Assessments.
• You will work with people subject to the Mental Health Act and complete S117 assessments and reviews.
• You will be co-located working alongside health colleagues including Community Mental Health Nurses, OTs, Psychologists and Psychiatrists to provide a service for people who are under adult services who have a Serious Mental Illness or Autistic Spectrum Condition.
• You will work collaboratively with other health and social care professionals.
• You will be identifying carers needs and supporting their assessments.
• You will have opportunities to take leadership roles and support service development.

About you:

• You will be a dynamic social worker with a strong value base and sense of person-centred practice who can use a strengths-based approach.
• You will need to demonstrate a passion and commitment for working with people with significant mental health problems and promoting their recovery.
• You will have excellent communication skills, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, have a flexible approach and be able to work closely with a range of professionals.
• You will be creative and passionate about enabling people to be as independent as possible.
• You will need to be confident with the legal basis for practice and be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental Health Act 2007, Human Rights Act 1998 and Equality Act 2010.
• You will embrace continuous professional development.
• You will embody our behaviours responsibility, respect, recognition, and collaboration. https://intranet.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/about/our-behaviours/
• You will be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post.

Social Workers will need to be registered with Social Work England.

We invite you to demonstrate how you evidence these within your application.

Further Information

Interviews: Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams

You must:

• have a degree in Social Work or equivalent
• be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post

See our adult safeguarding policy.

This post involves:

• working with vulnerable adults
• and/or having access to significant information about them

It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

Relocation expenses package

A generous relocation package is payable, of which up to £8,000 (of HMRC eligible elements) are free of tax. We can offer you help to move whether you are looking to buy or rent, depending on your circumstances.

Our package includes:

• an initial advance of up to £2,500 payable when you start
• help towards fees associated with buying/selling (up to £6,500)
• an option to receive help towards your rent or mortgage in the first two years

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

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At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you're passionate about making a difference, we'd love you to join us.

Salary includes three additional labour market increments (LMI's) which are awarded on a temporary basis and are subject to regular (usually bi- annual) review in accordance with our labour market adjustment scheme. LMI's can be subject to change with due notice and with time limited protections if a review results in amendment or withdrawal.

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