Senior Social Worker
Closing date: 02 August 2026

Job summary
Positive approach in providing advanced autonomous social work practice within multidisciplinary mental health team (MDT). Commitment to engage in a balanced combination of complex casework, fulfil statutory responsibilities, and offer professional leadership, while keeping a strong emphasis on recovery, safeguarding, and social inclusion. Working collaboratively in community setting, and to make a significant impact by supporting others, upholding best practices, and ensuring that each individual's needs are met through a holistic, recovery-oriented approach.

Main duties of the job

• To deliver expert social work assessments and interventions for adults with complex mental health and social care needs in the community
• To lead and advise on social care, safeguarding, and Care Act responsibilities within the MDT
• To support professional development and quality of practice within community services
• Provide professional leadership for social work practice within the MDT
• Offer formal supervision and day-to-day guidance to social workers, including ASYE support and assessment
• Act as a practice educator or assessor, supporting workforce development
• Contribute to service improvement, audit, and quality assurance initiatives
• Work collaboratively with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, OTs, and peer workers
• Liaise with Local Authorities, housing, voluntary sector, and social care providers
• Represent the service in multi-agency meetings, safeguarding forums, and care reviews
• Provide specialist social care advice to health colleagues to support integrated care delivery

About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission. Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Job responsibilities

• Undertake holistic, strengthsbased assessments under the Care Act 2014
• Lead on care planning, risk management, discharge planning, and community support
• Deliver evidencebased psychosocial and therapeutic interventions
• Actively promote recovery, independence, personalisation, and social justice
• Work directly with service users, carers, and families, often in home and community settings

Please see the attached job description and person specification for further details.

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: An appropriate social work qualification. Registration with Social Work England. Education to degree level. Master's degree or equivalent post-qualifying training. Approved Mental Health Professional training and qualification (or prepared to undertake training within a year of appointment to role).
• Desirable: Relevant post-qualifying training for social workers. Other relevant post-qualification training (e.g. CBT, family therapy). Best Interest Assessor training.

Experience

• Essential: Significant post-qualification experience with demonstrable evidence of excellent practice at advanced level. Extensive knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance, theory, and policy in relation to adult and children's social care. Experience of undertaking assessment focused personalisation, choice and control, and care planning.

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.
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: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Kingsley Green, Harper Lane, Radlett, WD7 9HQ
Employer's website: https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
For questions about the job, contact:
Service Line Lead, Denford Chifamba, denford.chifamba@nhs.net, 07799620394