In-Patient Social Worker
The closing date is 17 August 2026

Job summary
Are you seeking a change within your Social Work journey? Or are you a newly qualified Social Worker looking to take a step up into a senior role?

The Buckinghamshire Social Care Team is looking for anexperienced Social Worker to join our social work team as an inpatient Social Worker across Buckinghamshire. Within Oxford Health we deliver mental health social care support within a partnership agreement with Buckinghamshire Council.

Your role will include working within a small, fast paced, supportive team, assessing inpatients under the Care Act to support timely, safe discharges into the community.

You will work with a small team of experienced social workers based at the Whiteleaf centre also assessing our out of area patients

We have a robust induction whereupon you will attend corporate induction days, you will be given time to undertake initial relevant training and have shadowing opportunities to help you settle into your role from the first day on the job.

Main duties of the job
Your duties will include:

• Work with adults, and their families, who are ready to be discharged from hospital, to form an understanding of their needs and wishes and develop strength-based plans.
• Understand and apply the relevant statutory frameworks to promote independence and autonomy while balancing risks and the needs of others including children and vulnerable adults.
• You will use relationship based Social Work skills to understand the needs of this adult service user group and work collaboratively to create care and support plans that reflect person-centred outcomes.
• To provide a high quality and effective professional approach, taking responsibility for working and managing a caseload within a framework of appropriate supervision, dependent upon the complexities of these cases and the social worker's experience.
• To collate holistic information to ensure appropriate, person-centred and supportive safeguarding decisions are made.
• Demonstrate and model good practice that reflects a commitment to relationship and strengths-based practice, working collaboratively with adults and their families.

Applicants must have a full valid driving license and have access to a vehicle for work. Adjustments can be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010 where required.

About us
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details
Date posted: 04 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 267-BM7883114-3C
Job locations: Whiteleaf Centre, Bierton Road, Aylesbury, HP20 1EG, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Oxford Health are an organisation that cares about employee wellbeing, and we recognise if staff feel valued, supported and appreciated this then enables them to support the most vulnerable people in the community. To achieve that our management and supervision are first class with regular reviews of workload, and opportunities for two-way feedback and appraisals.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Job description
Job responsibilities
Oxford Health are an organisation that cares about employee wellbeing, and we recognise if staff feel valued, supported and appreciated this then enables them to support the most vulnerable people in the community. To achieve that our management and supervision are first class with regular reviews of workload, and opportunities for two-way feedback and appraisals.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Person Specification
Skills and Experience
Essential

• Qualified Social Worker - Registered with Social Work England
• More than one year continuous post-qualifying practice.
• Demonstrable experience strengths-based practice, working collaboratively with adults and their families.
• Demonstrable experience of undertaking direct work with adults
• Experience of undertaking assessments, reviews and s42's for adults under The Care Act 2014
• Knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable adults in a statutory setting
• Knowledge and experience in the application of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, standards and local policies and procedures
• Demonstrable ability to build sound, productive working relationships with colleagues, partners and other staff.
• Ability to maintain accurate and up to date case records in a timely manner
• UK Driving licence and access to a car on daily basis

Desirable

• Experience of working in adults in a mental health setting
• PEPS 1 or 2 award

Personal Attributes
Essential

• A commitment to Continuous Professional Development
• A commitment to the learning and development of colleagues
• Have a strong social work identity
• Ability to manage a complex case load
• Being able to work as a team player as well as autonomously
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times

Knowledge
Essential

• Understanding the needs of service users requiring mental health services
• Working with health and social care data bases
• Understanding of commissioning and the delivery of care services through the local authority.
• Applying relevant legal frameworks into practice

Desirable

• Knowledge of community resources and services in Buckinghamshire

Person Specification
Skills and Experience
Essential

• Qualified Social Worker - Registered with Social Work England
• More than one year continuous post-qualifying practice.
• Demonstrable experience strengths-based practice, working collaboratively with adults and their families.
• Demonstrable experience of undertaking direct work with adults
• Experience of undertaking assessments, reviews and s42's for adults under The Care Act 2014
• Knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable adults in a statutory setting
• Knowledge and experience in the application of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, standards and local policies and procedures
• Demonstrable ability to build sound, productive working relationships with colleagues, partners and other staff.
• Ability to maintain accurate and up to date case records in a timely manner
• UK Driving licence and access to a car on daily basis

Desirable

• Experience of working in adults in a mental health setting
• PEPS 1 or 2 award

Personal Attributes
Essential

• A commitment to Continuous Professional Development
• A commitment to the learning and development of colleagues
• Have a strong social work identity
• Ability to manage a complex case load
• Being able to work as a team player as well as autonomously
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times

Knowledge
Essential

• Understanding the needs of service users requiring mental health services
• Working with health and social care data bases
• Understanding of commissioning and the delivery of care services through the local authority.
• Applying relevant legal frameworks into practice

Desirable

• Knowledge of community resources and services in Buckinghamshire

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).

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.

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: Oxford Health NHS Trust
Address: Whiteleaf Centre, Bierton Road, Aylesbury, HP20 1EG, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details
Employer name: Oxford Health NHS Trust
Address: Whiteleaf Centre, Bierton Road, Aylesbury, HP20 1EG, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Team Manager, Tricia Barnett, tricia.barnett@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk, 07918076665

Supporting documents
Oxford Health NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)