Band 6 Forensic Social Worker

Band 6 Forensic Social Worker

The closing date is 04 May 2026

The Forensic directorate is in partnership with REACHOUT Provider Collaborative to deliver secure services in the West Midlands.

We are seeking to recruit a permanent Band 6 Mental Health Forensic Social Worker, as an opportunity to join a well-established and supportive forensic social work team.

We operate across two sites: Medium Secure services in Stafford, at St Georges Hospital and Low Secure services in Clee Unit at the Redwoods Centre in Shrewsbury. The service offers acute admission, treatment and a comprehensive rehabilitation program to men with mental health problems who have a history of offending or risks to others. All units operate within the Recovery model of care.

The post involves providing the social work perspective to the multi-disciplinary team on Norton rehabilitation ward. The post holder will be primarily based at the Hatherton Centre Medium Secure. The post holder will ideally have had some experience of working with service-users who have a forensic history. Applicants should holds Social Work England registration and hold AMHP status or a willingness to work towards this qualification.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the Community.

For further information or to arrange an informal visit please contact: Liz Wylie via email on

Interviews are planned for the 18th of May 2026.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Providing specialist forensic social work support to adult males with mental health needs, complex risk profiles and offending histories.
• Ensuring care and intervention is delivered in line with statutory duties, recovery principles, and public protection requirements.

The post holder will be accountable to the Forensic Social Work Lead Professional, who will allocate and review all work through regular supervision. The post holder will also be operationally supported by the relevant Ward Manager.

The main duties are in line with social work statutory duties, discretionary powers and professional values/code of conduct.

1. To provide social work input and support to adults/carers/families helping to promote self determination, choice and autonomy.
2. To ensure the most appropriate influencing statute governs the personalisation pathway framework, within forensic mental health and criminal justice contexts.
3. To conduct a range of holistic, needs led assessments, and complex evaluations, alongside care and support planning and reviews.
4. Individuals remain central to all processes.
5. Assessments may include support for individuals with needs related to safeguarding protocols, Care Act legislation, Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act legislation, including forensic sections and Ministry of Justice restrictions.
6. Relevant risk and safeguarding information and support is communicated to appropriate parties, as required.

Person Specification Qualifications & Training

• Professional Social Work qualification, DipSW, CQSW, CSS, BA, MA or foreign qualification where certified by the professional social work regulatory body.
• Ensuring current registration with the professional social work regulatory body at all times.

Experience

• Significant post qualification experience of working with adults with needs associated to older age, physical health or mental health needs and their carers.
• Experience of working within a secure, forensic, or criminal justice setting.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Have a working knowledge/familiarity of a range of legislation including but not limited to: The Care Act; The Mental Capacity Act; The Mental Health Act; The Equalities Act and an awareness of other legislation as it relates to people with mental health difficulties including Children and Families, Housing etc.

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.

Address

Norton - Hatherton, St George's Hospital