Forensic Social Worker

Forensic Social Worker (Band 6)

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a dedicated and resilient Forensic Social Worker to join their specialist multidisciplinary teams at the Bracton Centre (Medium Secure Unit) and Memorial Hospital. This role sits at the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system, requiring a professional who can navigate complex risk assessments while fiercely advocating for the rights and recovery of service users. You will work across inpatient settings and forensic community services, ensuring that social care needs are integrated into every stage of a patient’s journey from admission to conditional discharge.

Core Requirements and Skills

• Professional Status: Degree in Social Work and current registration with Social Work England.

• Experience: Previous experience at NHS Band 5 (or equivalent) is essential, specifically working with individuals with complex mental health needs.

• Legal Expertise: Deep knowledge of the Mental Health Act (1983/2007), Mental Capacity Act (2005), and the Criminal Justice System.

• Risk Assessment: Ability to analyze highly complex situations involving offending behavior and formulate robust risk management strategies.

• Communication: Confidence in writing “Social Circumstances” reports and providing evidence/cross-examination in Mental Health Tribunals.

• Advocacy: A commitment to anti-oppressive practice and promoting equality, diversity, and the rights of service users and carers.

• Safeguarding: A lead role in safeguarding both adults and children within a forensic context.

Key Responsibilities

• Caseload Management: Provide specialist social care to an agreed caseload across inpatient wards and forensic community settings.

• Multidisciplinary Working: Act as the social care expert within a team of psychiatrists, nurses, and therapists to inform post-admission assessments and care plans.

• Care Coordination: Act as care co-ordinator under the CPA (Care Programme Approach) and provide social supervision for patients subject to conditional discharge.

• Liaison & Funding: Identify “Responsible Local Authorities” to secure funding for care packages and facilitate timely, safe discharges.

• Therapeutic Engagement: Engage with families and carers, assisting in the recovery process and providing family-focused interventions where required.

• Leadership: Supervise student social workers and act as a practice teacher, contributing to the development of the next generation of forensic practitioners.

Why Join Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust?

Oxleas is one of the largest providers of prison and forensic health services in the UK, known for its “Kind, Fair, Listen, Care” values.

• Salary: £44,485 to £52,521 per annum (including London weighting).

• Location: Primary sites at the Bracton Centre (Dartford) and Memorial Hospital (Woolwich).

• Career Growth: Access to a wide range of clinical skills training and leadership development opportunities.

• Impact: Work in a trauma-informed environment that seeks to improve lives by providing excellence in complex forensic care.

• Support: Become part of a large, diverse workforce of 4,000 members across 125 sites in South East London and Kent.

Vital Information

• Contract: Permanent, Full-time.

• Vetting: This post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

• Sponsorship: Skilled Worker sponsorship applications are welcome and will be considered alongside all others.

• Work Pattern: Primarily full-time; involves some autonomous working across community and hostel settings.

• Reference: 277-7724343-FOR.