Location
London Borough of Tower Hamlets - Community

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
Competitive salary plus allowances (if applicable)

About the Role
We are recruiting for a Mental Health Social Worker to join our Isle of Dogs Neighborhood Mental Health Team. If you are passionate about supporting adults experiencing mental health difficulties, committed to achieving positive outcomes, and bring your experience in the field, we would love to hear from you.

The main purpose of this role is to provide a professional social work service to adults, their families, and carers in line with the Care Act 2014, promoting wellbeing and identifying significant impact. You will comply with statutory requirements of relevant childcare and mental health legislation, including the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and assist individuals by completing strength-based assessments that identify personal, network, community strengths, and universal services.

You will develop support plans to meet personalised outcomes, taking a preventative approach to intervention that maximises opportunities to reduce and delay needs. Providing sufficient advice and information to support informed decision making, including arranging advocacy as appropriate. Your intervention will be holistic, working in an integrated way with all relevant professionals.

Safeguarding enquiries will be undertaken in line with legislation, statutory guidance, and good practice, with a focus on making safeguarding personal to ensure the adult is at the centre of the process.

Key duties include:
- Carrying out responsibilities under mental health legislation, including Approved Mental Health Professional duties where applicable
- Developing and implementing resettlement plans for people with severe mental illness
- Using a strength-based, person-centred approach to develop creative, personalised solutions that promote independence
- Promoting community wellbeing, choice, and control, and using self-directed support flexibly
- Ensuring service users, families, and carers are central to decision making and supporting carers through assessments
- Developing effective working relationships with health agencies, third sector, housing providers, and others to facilitate coordinated, high-quality outcomes
- Providing access to information, advice, and signposting to universal and preventative services
- Making ongoing assessments of need and risk to minimise harm and maximise independence
- Leading safeguarding enquiries and preparing high-quality reports for tribunals, courts, and panels
- Managing a complex caseload within agreed policies and maintaining accurate records
- Responding to safeguarding, complaints, and routine enquiries professionally and within timeframes

Additional responsibilities include valuing diversity, attending supervision and appraisal sessions, and flexibility to transfer within Adult Social Care operational services as required.

Professional development is supported through training and participation in the council’s performance, development, and review scheme. All duties must be discharged in accordance with council policies, Code of Conduct, and relevant legislation, promoting equality and anti-discriminatory practice.

Our benefits include membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave (29 days rising to 33 after 5+ years, plus bank holidays and 3 additional Christmas days), staff money-saving schemes, and learning and development opportunities through our Learning Academy with clear career development and leadership pathways.

Experience
Experience working with adults experiencing mental health difficulties is essential. Knowledge of mental health legislation, safeguarding processes, and social work practice within adult social care is required. Experience in managing complex caseloads and undertaking Approved Mental Health Professional duties is desirable.

About you
You will be passionate about supporting adults with mental health needs, committed to achieving positive outcomes, and able to work collaboratively with a range of professionals and agencies. You should have strong communication and assessment skills, be person-centred and strength-based in your approach, and able to manage risk effectively. Flexibility and a commitment to continuous professional development are important.

Qualifications
You must hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Additional training relevant to mental health social work and safeguarding is advantageous.