Senior Forensic Social Worker

This is an exciting opportunity for a Social Worker with experience of, or an interest in, forensic social work.

West London Forensic Service provides inpatient care for adults detained under the Mental Health Act within low and medium secure settings. The service supports recovery while maintaining safety for service users, staff, and the wider community.

This role focuses on providing social work support within a low secure pre-discharge service. Working as part of a well-established multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to safeguarding, statutory responsibilities, carer support, discharge planning, and risk management.

The Trust is also leading an innovative NHS England initiative through the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT), supporting service users to transition successfully from secure settings into the community and improve long-term outcomes and quality of life.

You will join a supportive and experienced team, with access to regular supervision, manageable caseloads, and a wide range of professional development opportunities across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for applicants for a Senior Mental Health Practitioner committed to working collaboratively with individuals and providers in the community to find positive and safe ways of working with people who use these services.

You will work as part of a service that will improve the lives of forensic mental health service users and their carers. This is a rare chance to be part of shaping a new service, providing opportunities to develop your skills and your career.

At WLNHST we don't just accept difference we actively celebrate it and support it for the benefit of our staff, our patients and our community. We are proud to be part of an equal opportunity work place.

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Details

Date posted

15 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£55,524 to £62,652 a year

per annum including Outer London HCAS - Pro Rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

222-SF-737-A

Job locations

St Bernard's Hospital

London

UB1 3EU

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Job responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Desirable

• Post Qualifying training and development
• Qualification in Social Work with current Social Work England Registration.

Experience / Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• The applicant must have a minimum of two years post graduate Social Work experience.
• The applicant must have two years post qualification experience in a mental health setting.
• The applicant must have experience of autonomous working as a social worker.
• oDemonstrate an ability to undertake assessments of risk using specific risk assessment tools.
• oDemonstrate an ability to formulate implement and evaluate programmes of care for those individuals in the Community Forensic Service and those being referred.
• oDemonstrate an ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with clients who have a range of disorders that will include personality disorder dual diagnosis
• oDemonstrate knowledge of actuarial and clinical risk assessment and how this might be applied to the management of clients.
• oDemonstrate knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act and its application to Mentally Disordered Offenders.
• oDemonstrate knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and its implication for the management of Forensic clients.
• oDemonstrate an ability to work with a range of organisations including Courts, Police and Probation, ministry of Justice.
• oDemonstrate good communication skills, especially listening, empathy, facilitation, persuasion, motivation, negotiation, education, and reassurance.
• oDemonstrate ability to lead projects and development of services
• oDemonstrate the ability to understand the role of the Community Forensic Service.
• oDemonstrate ability for cross cultural working ensuring whatever the cultural background of clients they are treated holistically
• oDemonstrate an ability to manage stress and competing demands prioritising appropriately
• oDemonstrate skills associated with good documentation.
• oAn ability to work as part of a team.
• oAbility to work in an autonomous manner

Desirable

• Experience of community forensic working practises
• oDemonstrate ability to supervise staff
• oDemonstrate ability to lead on projects and audits.
• oDemonstrate an ability to teach.
• oDemonstrate a good understanding of CPA and its application.
• oDemonstrate an ability to communicate complex issues to users and carers.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Desirable

• Post Qualifying training and development
• Qualification in Social Work with current Social Work England Registration.

Experience / Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• The applicant must have a minimum of two years post graduate Social Work experience.
• The applicant must have two years post qualification experience in a mental health setting.
• The applicant must have experience of autonomous working as a social worker.
• oDemonstrate an ability to undertake assessments of risk using specific risk assessment tools.
• oDemonstrate an ability to formulate implement and evaluate programmes of care for those individuals in the Community Forensic Service and those being referred.
• oDemonstrate an ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with clients who have a range of disorders that will include personality disorder dual diagnosis
• oDemonstrate knowledge of actuarial and clinical risk assessment and how this might be applied to the management of clients.
• oDemonstrate knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act and its application to Mentally Disordered Offenders.
• oDemonstrate knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and its implication for the management of Forensic clients.
• oDemonstrate an ability to work with a range of organisations including Courts, Police and Probation, ministry of Justice.
• oDemonstrate good communication skills, especially listening, empathy, facilitation, persuasion, motivation, negotiation, education, and reassurance.
• oDemonstrate ability to lead projects and development of services
• oDemonstrate the ability to understand the role of the Community Forensic Service.
• oDemonstrate ability for cross cultural working ensuring whatever the cultural background of clients they are treated holistically
• oDemonstrate an ability to manage stress and competing demands prioritising appropriately
• oDemonstrate skills associated with good documentation.
• oAn ability to work as part of a team.
• oAbility to work in an autonomous manner

Desirable

• Experience of community forensic working practises
• oDemonstrate ability to supervise staff
• oDemonstrate ability to lead on projects and audits.
• oDemonstrate an ability to teach.
• oDemonstrate a good understanding of CPA and its application.
• oDemonstrate an ability to communicate complex issues to users and carers.

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

West London NHS Trust

Address

St Bernard's Hospital

London

UB1 3EU

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West London NHS Trust

Address

St Bernard's Hospital

London

UB1 3EU

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Qualifications and Training

Desirable

• Post Qualifying training and development
• Qualification in Social Work with current Social Work England Registration.

Experience / Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• The applicant must have a minimum of two years post graduate Social Work experience.
• The applicant must have two years post qualification experience in a mental health setting.
• The applicant must have experience of autonomous working as a social worker.
• oDemonstrate an ability to undertake assessments of risk using specific risk assessment tools.
• oDemonstrate an ability to formulate implement and evaluate programmes of care for those individuals in the Community Forensic Service and those being referred.
• oDemonstrate an ability to use a range of therapeutic interventions with clients who have a range of disorders that will include personality disorder dual diagnosis
• oDemonstrate knowledge of actuarial and clinical risk assessment and how this might be applied to the management of clients.
• oDemonstrate knowledge of Part 3 of the Mental Health Act and its application to Mentally Disordered Offenders.
• oDemonstrate knowledge of the Criminal Justice Act and its implication for the management of Forensic clients.
• oDemonstrate an ability to work with a range of organisations including Courts, Police and Probation, ministry of Justice.
• oDemonstrate good communication skills, especially listening, empathy, facilitation, persuasion, motivation, negotiation, education, and reassurance.
• oDemonstrate ability to lead projects and development of services
• oDemonstrate the ability to understand the role of the Community Forensic Service.
• oDemonstrate ability for cross cultural working ensuring whatever the cultural background of clients they are treated holistically
• oDemonstrate an ability to manage stress and competing demands prioritising appropriately
• oDemonstrate skills associated with good documentation.
• oAn ability to work as part of a team.
• oAbility to work in an autonomous manner

Desirable

• Experience of community forensic working practises
• oDemonstrate ability to supervise staff
• oDemonstrate ability to lead on projects and audits.
• oDemonstrate an ability to teach.
• oDemonstrate a good understanding of CPA and its application.
• oDemonstrate an ability to communicate complex issues to users and carers.