Social Work

Devon Partnership NHS Trust is proud to have a dedicated cohort of over 200 Social Workers, working in a variety of roles across our key services. NHS Social Workers play a vital role in delivering high-quality care and support to individuals across Devon.

NHS Social Workers have a significant impact in our frontline adults and older peoples Core Mental Health teams, learning disability and neurodiversity services. They are also present in our Secure services, Specialist services (eating disorders, gender identity, and perinatal services), as well as our dedicated Assigned Social Care teams, which provide a truly integrated approach to meeting an individuals’ health and social care needs. Social Workers are the lead professionals in our nationally recognised Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) provision.

Additionally, an NHS Social Workers plays a crucial role in providing support through our NHS Talking Therapies service TALKWORKS and Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

We value Social Workers who are passionate about advocating for rights and social justice and who understand the social determinants of mental health and the role of Social Work in addressing inequalities. Working collaboratively with other professionals, NHS Social Workers take the lead in and Mental Capacity Act 2005, to ensure individuals' rights are upheld. Your assertiveness and advocacy skills will make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

The work of NHS Social Workers is underpinned by a sound theoretical basis. You will provide support, guidance, and evidence-based therapies to equip individuals with the tools they need to achieve their aspirations. Your work will contribute to the safety and well-being of those in our care, ensuring their rights, preferences, and choices are respected.

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Social Work Career Pathways

At Devon Partnership NHS Trust, we offer diverse and rewarding Social Workers career paths. We provide opportunities for social work career progression, allowing you to develop professionally and make a lasting impact in the field of social care. As well as the Social Work Apprenticeship, which offers existing staff members the opportunity to gain the social work qualification and training on the job as an NHS Social Worker, we offer the following opportunities.

Band 5

As a NHS Social Worker, you may start your career at Band 5, working alongside other professionals to provide comprehensive care and support. You will work alongside multi-disciplinary professionals, providing a truly holistic approach to assessment, treatment, and recovery, and contributing your expertise in Social Work to enhance the overall well-being of individuals and their communities.

Band 6

As you progress in your career, you will have the opportunity to advance to a Band 6 role. This could include positions such as a Senior Mental Health Practitioner, where you will take on additional responsibilities and play a more prominent role in delivering high-quality care, supervision and support of emerging talent within the organisation. You may also explore roles such as an Assessment and Brief Intervention Worker, providing specialised support and interventions to individuals in need.

Band 7

For those seeking further career advancement, Band 7 offers exciting opportunities. You may aspire to become a Clinical Team Leader or Manager, where you will lead and coordinate a team of professionals, ensuring the delivery of exceptional care. Alternatively, you may choose to pursue roles as a Practice Lead or an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, where your expertise and leadership will contribute to shaping the future of social work within our organisation.

At Devon Partnership NHS Trust, we are committed to supporting your professional growth and development. We offer leadership development to all professions, and there are opportunities to develop into senior roles across the organisation.

Professional Growth and Development

At Devon Partnership NHS Trust, we recognise the importance of professional growth and development for our Social Workers. We offer various opportunities for career progression, including management positions and team leadership roles. Our commitment to continuous learning and improvement ensures that our Social Workers have access to training and development programs to enhance their skills and knowledge. There are dedicated NHS Social Work practice forums running across the organisation and a Social Work Strategy can play in the ever evolving role of statutory services. Our Head of Profession for Social Work ensures that the profession of being an NHS Social Worker is at the forefront of innovative and visionary change programmes across the organisation.

The Future of Social Work in Mental Health

As we move forward, we envision a future where Social Workers within Devon Partnership Trust, regardless of their employment route, enjoy a strong sense of professional identity. We believe in the value and unique contributions of mental health Social Workers and are committed to ensuring their respect and recognition within our organisation. We strive to provide easy access to registration systems and structures that support their continued development as strong, value-led professionals. Social Work has been at the forefront in the redesign of our services as part of the Community Mental Health Framework. This framework aims to modernise our organisation by offering whole-person, whole population health and social care approaches aligned to the new Primary Care Networks across Devon, while also developing sustainable community mental health provision.

Social Work Practice Handbook

The Devon Partnership Trust Mental Health Social Work Practice Handbook is a testament to our commitment to excellence in social care. This invaluable resource outlines key social work theories and models, proposing a practice framework based on a social model of disability. It recognises individuals as experts in their own situations, enabling true co-produced strengths-based interventions.

The Practice Handbook not only supports our Social Workers but also assists team managers and leaders across the organisation in understanding the professional value of social work. It empowers our Social Workers to assert their professional practice with confidence, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and support.

Join Us Today

By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to apply the principles and theories outlined in the Practice Handbook to real-world scenarios. You will play an integral role in building relationships with individuals, carers, families, and communities, fostering an environment of support and empowerment.

View a flippable version of the handbook

If you are passionate about making a difference in people's lives and are interested in joining our dynamic team of Social Care professionals, we invite you to explore the current job opportunities available at Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Together, we can create a brighter future for those in need of care and support in our community.

Please head to the ‘All Jobs’ tab and search for Social Worker/ Mental Health Professional job adverts.

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