Social Worker – Inpatient and Forensic Community LD Team
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 05 July 2026
We are looking for a dynamic and highly motivated Social Worker to join our Ashford Low Secure Forensic Learning Disabilities Service, with one day per week in our co‑located Community Forensic Learning Disabilities Team.
You must be able to work sensitively with people with learning disabilities and complex needs who have come into contact with the criminal justice system. You will be committed to person‑centred practice and skilled at working collaboratively with multi‑disciplinary colleagues and a wider network of services to support discharge and successful transition into the community.
The role provides excellent learning opportunities and you will be welcomed into a supportive, friendly, and highly skilled team with a positive, compassionate approach to working with people who have complex forensic needs. We work with a strong multidisciplinary ethos, underpinning by formulation, clinical supervision, and reflective practice alongside the Good Lives Model.
Main duties of the job
The Forensic Social Worker will provide case management to a defined caseload and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues to assess needs and risks within a forensic patient population.
Provide a professional social work service to service users, families and carers, routinely working in collaboration with them, MDT colleagues and external stakeholders from pre‑admission to discharge.
Write and present Admission Social History Reports, reports for CPA meetings, managers’ hearings and mental health tribunals, and funding panels.
Model good practice, setting standards and expectations for others.
Deputise for the Senior Forensic Social Worker at Social Care at a range of operational and clinical meetings, when required.
Support the social care needs of service users in the context of relevant health and social care legislation and policy frameworks including, but not limited to, the Community Learning Disabilities Team and the relevant legal frameworks.
Work with patients who have been discharged into the community or living in the community with complex forensic needs. Liaise with key stakeholders such as Local Authority and Probation.
Support transition from hospital other than Ashford alongside wider FCLDT team.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Degree in Social Work or DipSW or CQSW.
- Current Social Work England registration.
- Post‑qualifying training formally or work‑based in relevant areas of social work and/or mental health, learning disability or forensics.
- Hold or a willingness to obtain Practice Educator Qualification 1 and 2 PEPS.
- MSc in Social Work (MSW) or Post‑Graduate (PGDipSW).
- Qualifications relating to the Mental Capacity Act, e.g., Best Interest Assessor.
Experience
- Suitable post‑qualifying experience as a Social Worker.
- Good working knowledge of legislative guidance and policy e.g., Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Human Rights Act and criminal justice frameworks e.g., MAPPA, Victim Liaison, MARAC and Carers’ Rights.
- Knowledge and application of professional standards, codes of conduct and Social Work England standards of proficiency and Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).
- Good working understanding of Information Governance, Data Protection and confidentiality.
- Ability to assess and manage cases in a multidisciplinary team setting.
- Skilled at assessing and implementing risk management frameworks.
- Skilled at assessing and promoting the involvement of people in developing their own care/ support plans using a strength and asset based approach.
- An understanding of Equality, Inclusion, and protected characteristics.
- Experience of working with service users with mental disorders and/or learning disabilities.
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working and promoting social work and social care.
- Experience of presenting reports in formal settings, e.g., Courts, Mental Health Tribunals, Safeguarding Strategy.
- Experience in working with families.
- Experience of child and adult safeguarding.
- Experience of working with forensic service users.
- Experience of supervising others.
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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Salary
£39,959 to £48,117 a year (pro rata for part‑time hours)
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