Senior Social Worker for Adolescents - Maternity Cover (until 24 September 2027)Job summaryJoin UCLH as a Senior Social Worker for Adolescents and help deliver high-quality, age-appropriate support to young people with complex health, social, emotional and safeguarding needs. Based within our specialist adolescent service, this maternity cover post offers the opportunity to work with a skilled multidisciplinary team in a nationally recognised acute and specialist trust.
You will need strong social work assessment skills, confidence managing risk and safeguarding concerns, and a commitment to improving outcomes for adolescents and their families. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced social worker who is passionate about adolescent health, complex care and collaborative practice
Main duties of the jobYou will provide specialist social work input for adolescents aged 13-19 admitted to the unit, including young people arriving via A&E and those with long-term complex conditions. You will undertake timely assessments, contribute to risk management and discharge planning, respond to safeguarding concerns, and work closely with families, ward staff, CAMHS, adult mental health teams, local authorities and community services across the UK.
The role also includes supporting vulnerable young adults, contributing to best interest and multi-agency meetings, maintaining high-quality records, offering expert advice to colleagues, and deputising for the Lead/Consultant Social Worker when required.
About usUniversity College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:o University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)o National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgeryo Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitalso University College Hospital Grafton Way Buildingo Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicineo University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centreo The Hospital for Tropical Diseaseso University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Person Specification1. Knowledge & Qualifications- a.UK recognised qualification in Social Work
- b.Completed/completing Masters Degree
- c.Registered Social Work England
- d.Knowledge and understanding of child & adolescent development, parenting capacity, environmental factors and risk and protective factors
- e.Knowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance and the London safeguarding children Procedures
- f.Knowledge and understanding of a range of social work interventions and methodologies
Desirable- h.Knowledge & understanding of sickness and disability benefits
2. Experience- a.A minimum of 2 years post-qualifying experience working with children, young people and families with complex needs including child protection cases
Desirable- b.Experience of working with young people with long-term health conditions/disabilities
- c.Experience of working with young people with complex emotional/mental health needs
- d.Experience of working with young vulnerable adults
- e.Experience of working as part of a multi disciplinary team
3. Communication- b.Demonstrates a high level of consultative, interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including the ability to deal with complex issues in a sensitive and appropriate manner
- c.Communicates effectively verbally, in writing and in electronic formats
- d.Has ability to create a rapport and build relationships with young people, parents & carers
- e.Communicates with young people and carers in an empathetic manner
- f.Demonstrates understanding of good practice in Customer Care
4. Assessment & Care Planning- a.Ability to gather information quickly and effectively to inform judgement for interventions including in crises
- b.Ability to use assessment frameworks including risk assessments discerningly
- c.Ability to summarise, analyse and evaluate complex information
- d.Ability to make timely, realistic and safe care plans in conjunction with young people, carers, other members of the multidisciplinary team and outside agencies
5. Liaison and working in partnership with other agencies- b.Ability to develop and maintain effective interagency working relationships
6. Personal And People Development- a.Evidence of Comprehensive and up to date Continuing Professional Development
- b.Reflective in Practice
- c.Expects supervision that covers practice, organisational aspects of the role and the impact of work on self
Desirable- d.Experience of contributing to training programmes and delivering teaching to colleagues and other agencies
- e.Models the social work role & able to provide expertise and specialist social work advice, guidance and consultation to other staff
7. Quality- a.Understands importance of and own role in Clinical Governance and risk management
- b.Understands importance of quality assurance processes
8. Information processing- Willingness to work with electronic patient records (EPIC)
Desirable- Able to perform basic database interrogation as requested
- Able to collate simple datasets and present in a logical format
9. Financial Management- Willingness and ability to manage small sums of money from charitable funds
10. Resilience- Ability to thrive in a complex & at times emotionally challenging environment and demonstrate resilience
- Ability to work well under pressure and or in times of crisis.
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.Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website. 
