Trust Professional Head of Social Work

Job responsibilities

Professional Leadership, Management and Governance

Report to the Trusts Director of Social Care and be a core member of the Trusts senior clinical and professional leadership team, developing and delivering on the organisations professional social work strategy, promoting evidence-based practice, and embedding a learning culture that embeds psycho-social and social work models.

Ensure that the management of staff is consistent with Trusts Human Resources Policies to the achievement of equality, equity and optimum performance.

Undertake supervision of senior social workers and other staff (as agreed), input into performance and productivity improvements, and participate in annual appraisals for staff which reflect these priorities and ensures staff have access to appropriate training and development.

Operates with high-level autonomy, managing multidisciplinary stakeholders, internally and externally within health and social care.

Liaises with multi-disciplinary teams, senior leaders, external agencies, and partnerships, to influence practice and ensure standards.

Lead and ensure that there are appropriate professional and managerial structures in place to enable social workers professional registration, supervision, reflective practice and development.

Be responsible for developing a new Trust Social Work Advisory Committee, for developing, agreeing and implementing governance standards, policies and objectives associated with the practice of Social Work across the Trust.

Ensure that the Trusts systems and processes enable appropriate and effective engagement of social work staff.

Lead and develop the Trust social work Training and Education strategy. Ensure this consider inclusion of social work training placements, apprenticeships, the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) for Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW), Advance Practice development pathways (e.g. AMHP, Advance Practitioner, Approved Clinician) and other career progression routes using the Professional Capabilities Framework.

Lead on governance and oversight of the registration and re-registration of Trust social workers.

Engage and manage relationships with external partners including NHSE, DHSC, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Social Work England and Integrated Care System (ICS), ADASS, Skills for Care, and others as appropriate to promote social work training and education.

Lead the planning and implementation of relevant professional policies and procedures, as well as ensure that social work interventions, approaches and strategies are reflected in all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidance.

Where appropriate manage and/or provide professional supervision to social workers, social work trainees

Ensure that social work is represented within the Trusts Clinical Effectiveness Group, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, and the Trusts multi-professional Clinical Council.

Ensure that social work is represented in Quality improvements, quality planning and quality management; alongside other professions be a key stakeholder in development of Quality Centre programmes of work.

Ensure the implementation of standards in the practice of social work in the Trust are in line with the national standards ensuring there are social work governance systems that supports improvement of patient experience, service quality, safety and efficiency.

Lead the organisation at regional and national social work forums and feedback national developments in social work and influence development of policy and practice, by taking an active part in professional networks

Work in a community orientated way taking account of the diversity of local communities, the political context and community organisations and resources to support and promote social inclusion for people with mental health problems.

Support staff from ethnic minority groups to develop their careers and therefore to support a diverse workforce that reflects the population the Trust serves. Work closely with equality and diversity workforce leads to address relevant issues.

Promote the involvement of service users and carers in service development, enhancing the service user experience as appropriate.

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To advise the Trust Director of Social Care on fitness to practice issues when they occur

Deputise for Director of Social Care on social work matters and Directors as required.

Teaching, Training, Education and Supervision

Ensure appropriate professional accountability structures and systems for professional supervision and appraisal of social workers

Provide consultation to social workers and wider MDT on issues relevant to social work practice and service developments.

Ensure that placements are available and of the highest quality for social work trainees as appropriate.

Maintain good relationships with social work training providers and develop training placements.

Ensure the development of the knowledge and skills base within the services by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in social work, and through implementing knowledge gained.

Contribute to a bio psychosocially informed framework of treatment, care and support.

To receive regular clinical and professional supervision according to regulatory and professional bodies and Trust guidelines.

Research, Audits and Development

Lead on the development and preparation of research proposals relevant to the service to attract both internal and external grants, collaborating with management and external agencies to identify clinically focused research priorities. Liaise closely with the Academic, Service and Clinical Directors on research and development opportunities.

Initiate and appropriate research and ensure systems are in place for research advice and supervision to other social work staff undertaking research within the service.

Lead and support on the initiation, undertaking and supervision of complex service evaluation and audit as required.

Disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles and promote such practice by other social workers.

Ensure utilisation of social work trainees and postgraduate students in service evaluation and research.

Collate evidence for social work elements of regulatory ...