Deputy Lead Social Worker - Secure Mental Health Hospital
Deputy Lead Social Worker
Location: Thatcham
Service: Male & Female / Medium & Low Secure / PICU
Salary: Up to £48,000 per annum
Overview:
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Deputy Lead Social Worker to join a secure mental health service in Thatcham, supporting patients across Medium Secure, Low Secure, and PICU wards.
The hospital provides specialist forensic mental health services and supports a seamless internal care pathway for adult service users with complex mental illness, personality disorders, and challenging behaviours.
As Deputy Lead Social Worker, you will play a vital role in safeguarding, service user recovery, and leadership within the Social Work team - working as part of an established multidisciplinary team.
Key Responsibilities:
Support and deputise for the Lead Social Worker in managing the Social Work team and quality assurance processes.
Manage a caseload of up to 24 forensic service users, including assessments, CPA reports, Mental Health Tribunal work, and Managers Hearings.
Lead and promote adult and child safeguarding within the service.
Deliver safeguarding induction and update training across the hospital.
Lead on non-medical mental capacity issues and best interest decisions within MDT forums.
Provide supervision and appraisal to junior and senior Social Workers.
Liaise with external agencies including MAPPA, Local Authority Social Services, CMHT, FIND, FOLS, Police, and Probation to ensure statutory responsibilities are met.
Offer support to carers and families of detained patients.
Empower service users to engage actively in their care plans and work towards recovery goals.
Requirements:
Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
Strong working knowledge of Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding legislation.
Experience working in forensic mental health, secure services, or complex adult mental health services.
Proven ability to lead, supervise, and support other Social Workers.
Excellent risk assessment, communication, and report-writing skills.
Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and engage external stakeholders.
Benefits:
Annual salary up to £48,000
Equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), plus your birthday off!
Free meals and parking
Wellbeing support and activities to promote work-life balance
Career development and training opportunities
Pension contribution and life assurance
Enhanced maternity package
Additional benefits including retail discounts, car leasing schemes, and more.
Service Overview:
The service is a 130-bed independent hospital offering Medium Secure, Low Secure, and PICU services for male and female adults.
It provides highly personalised assessment and treatment programmes for adults with complex forensic mental health needs, supporting recovery and rehabilitation in a safe, structured environment.
Eden Brown Synergy is an equal opportunities employer.
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