An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Social Worker to be involved in a pilot project (12 months) as part of the newly designed Pathway to Recovery Service. The team will consist of 1 x AMHPs, 2 x Social Workers (Social Care Managers) and 1 x Social Prescriber and focuses upon Health and Social Care working collaboratively to support people who use the Psychiatric Hospital in York in developing recovery & support plans, as soon as they are admitted or in a preventative way to reduce need for formal admission.

The purpose of this team will be;

• Reduce hospital stays/delayed discharges by looking at how services can support the person’s pathway to recovery
• Strong emphasis upon the person’s strengths and assets within their community.
• To ensure that wrap around care is in place for the person at the time of discharge.
• To start discharge planning at the point of admission or before.
• To avoid unnecessary detentions under the MHA 1983.
• To reduce the need for s 117 MHA 83 aftercare.
• Implement a home first approach
• Consider the input of the voluntary sector with the customer and how they can contribute to discharge planning and future care provision.
• Work across all agencies and ensure that the customer is provided with the support that is required to facilitate their discharge-the MDT to ensure everything is in place.
• Your role would include;
• Track the customer’s pathway as soon as they have been admitted (work on their discharge date, plan, assessment processes, etc.)
• Work with the MDT to assess the person’s historical/current mental health issues, their social/health care needs and map out what assets they may already have in their community (start to identify gaps).
• Involve and work with all of the required agencies at the point of admission
• This approach would is to implement a more robust way of looking at discharging customers. A more challenging environment where professionals are encouraged to question each other’s views and move away from thinking a ‘more care means better outcomes approach’.
• Work with the community teams (CYC, TEWV, and LYPFT) to ensure that support is in place and track the customer’s progress to promote joined-up and preventative practice.
• Where appropriate, the AMHPs would act as support should decisions about the person’s ongoing detention be required, or there is the likelihood of the person being assessed for a CTO.
• The social workers would also act as the key workers in developing s 117 care ensuring that any s 117 plan is strengths and assets based.

You will need to demonstrate that you are particularly skilled in using a strengths based approach throughout a person’s recovery journey and that you consider the value of relationships and collaborative working vital in achieving sustainable mental well-being by accessing the right support at the right time from a variety of sources and breaking down any barriers that restrict this or identify gaps in provision. We want this team to be creative in empowering people to actively participate in their recovery and together how a person can be supported in their own homes and by their community.

As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The Council is committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

For further information, or an informal discussion, please contact Kirsten Mortimer (Service Manager - Mental Health and AMHP Service) at kirsten.mortimer@york.gov.uk  or on 07795 541 475 / 01904 555858.

Closing date: Sunday 4 April 2021 at 12 midnight

Interview date: Week commencing Monday 12 April 2021

Job Description