Forensic Inpatient Social Worker - Oxford

Oxford, England, United Kingdom

5/5/2025

This role includes an RSU allowance of £1,446 per annum on top of your salary

The Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service is a forward-looking, and progressive service providing high quality care to service users on their wards, through effective in-patient multi-disciplinary team-work, with ward-based Social Workers playing a pivotal role.

The forensic wards include Medium-secure Acute wards, Medium-secure Rehab wards, Low secure Units, and a Pre-discharge Unit, located across three sites – Littlemore, Oxford; Milton Keynes; and Aylesbury, Bucks. This role is based at Kennet Ward, our acute medium secure ward in the Oxford Clinic in Littlemore, and you'll be working on other wards when required.

We are looking for a highly motivated and resourceful, qualified and registered Social Work professional who is keen to utilise their skills, and experience, to bring the social care perspective into the forensic mental health In-patient setting, supporting service users in their recovery journey. This is a 12 month fixed-term contract and can be offered as a secondment opportunity.

This role is ideal for an experienced candidate who is resilient, enjoy working as part of an MDT, and sensitive to the recovery goals and needs of service users, and the team, in a busy ward environment.

• Work within an inpatient ward as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
• Contribute to pre-admission assessments, particularly focusing on identifying any social issues that are relevant to the person's recovery, and general circumstances.
• Identify any potential barriers to discharge at the earliest possible stage, and work with others to help overcome these.
• Provide support to the wider ward team in regard to both children’s and adult safeguarding responsibilities.
• Contribute to the ongoing care planning for in-patients, and work with partner organisations and the wider MDT to ensure risk is managed effectively. You'll be linking with relevant colleagues, Responsible Local Authorities and Integrated Care Boards to ensure that patients are assessed under the Care Act 2014 and that their 'Section 117' needs are determined in a timely manner, to facilitate effective discharge, in collaboration with the patient and their family.
• Contribute to various statutory forums including Mental Health Tribunals and Mental Health Act Hospital Managers’ Hearings.
• Demonstrate the skills to maintain their Social Work professional identity and ability to assert the social perspective when working within an inpatient environment.
  
  

Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties

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
  
  

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Reuben Ogwo Job title: Forensic Inpatient Social Work Lead Email address: [email protected] Telephone number: 07768546970

At Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust we want to employ people not just with experience, but with the aptitude and motivation to succeed and whose values resonate with our own.

Therefore, if you don’t meet all the requirements of the role and are unsure about applying but are excited about the opportunity, please do get in touch. We will be happy to discuss the requirements in more detail ahead of making a written application.

Benjamin Asare, Deputy Team Manager

[email protected]

07501480524