Social Work Assistant

Location: North Benfleet, Essex

Salary from £27,836 includes £1250 Essex Allowance Pro Rata per Annum (Depending on Experience)

Hours: Part Time 18.75 hours per week

St Andrew’s Healthcare Essex

At our Essex site, we provide patient centred care for both men and women with a personality disorder and/or mental health issues in a low secure and locked environment.

Your role with us

Joining our friendly social work team, you will be responsible to the Lead Social Worker and supervised by a Qualified Social Worker within the team.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide weekly drop-in sessions to the wards to ensure patients have regular access to social care support.
• To ensure patients are in receipt of appropriate benefits and support service users, families and carers to complete benefit application forms.
• To support the management of other patient finances in line with the Patient Finance Team.
• Provide advocacy directly or refer to patient advocacy services.
• Liaison with family and key agencies to support resolution of issues impacting the patient.
• Provide practical advice and support in relation to a wide variety of issues impacting on the patient.
• To make arrangements to facilitate family and home visits.
• To supervise and accurately record Family Contact.
• To escort patients to contact or to attend placement visits.
• Attend Social Work team and other MDT Meetings as appropriate.

Essential Criteria

• Experience of working in a team in a social / health care setting
• Good verbal, written and IT communication skills with a range of individuals
• An ability and willingness to develop a working understanding of relevant Mental Health and Children’s legislation
• To support the Social Work team in referring and managing safeguarding incidents
• An ability and willingness to develop a working understanding of welfare rights
• Ability to research information for the preparation and compilation of reports
• Ability to demonstrate an awareness of equality issues
• Understanding of the impact of mental illness on individuals, families and carers
• Be comfortable working in a secure environment with people who have complex needs and may present high risk

Rewards

We offer an excellent benefits package including: Pension; Sickness policy on par with the NHS; Access to the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts schemes; 35 days annual leave (including bank holidays), increasing after 10 years' service; Life cover; Electric Car lease scheme; Cycle to work scheme; Healthcare cash plan; Free parking; Paid DBS application; Access to free vocational qualifications.

Our patients and your colleagues will expect you to live the St Andrew’s CARE values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence every single day.

Closing Date: Wednesday 19th March 2025