Mental Health

Adult Mental Health Social Worker – NHS Band 7 | UK Job Opportunity

Job Overview

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) is recruiting an Adult Mental Health Social Worker to provide specialist adult mental health social work services within its Eating Disorders Inpatient Unit in Camberwell, London.

This is a Band 7, part-time secondment opportunity involving specialist assessments, safeguarding, care planning, risk management, social work consultation and multidisciplinary working.

Skilled Worker sponsorship applications are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications, subject to the applicant meeting the relevant requirements.

Job Details

Work Location

Gerald Russell Unit, Eating Disorders Inpatient Unit
4th Floor, New Douglas Bennett House
Camberwell
London
SE5 8AZ
United Kingdom

About the Role

The successful candidate will provide specialist social work support to patients receiving inpatient eating disorder services.

The role involves working closely with service users, families, carers, safeguarding leads, healthcare professionals, local authorities and external agencies to address complex social care and mental health needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide specialist social work assessments and interventions.
• Work in partnership with service users, families and carers.
• Assess complex social care needs and risks.
• Support safeguarding arrangements.
• Contribute to care planning and aftercare arrangements.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, ward rounds and CPA meetings.
• Contribute to complex risk assessments and safety planning.
• Support safe discharge planning.
• Provide advice on social work and mental health legislation.
• Work with local authorities and external agencies.
• Prepare complex professional reports and recommendations.
• Attend Mental Health Act tribunals when required.
• Maintain accurate and timely records.
• Maintain service-user confidentiality.
• Contribute to service development, audits and research.
• Support social work students where appropriately qualified.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Participate in professional social work supervision and continuing professional development.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Hold a recognised social work qualification.
• Be currently registered with Social Work England.
• Have significant post-qualification social work experience.
• Have adult and/or mental health social work experience.
• Have significant knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Understand adult safeguarding responsibilities.
• Have knowledge of adult mental health disorders.
• Understand social work supervision principles.
• Understand equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable Experience

• AMPH warrant.
• Experience or networking within eating disorder services.
• Knowledge of legislation relevant to eating disorder services.
• Knowledge of childcare legislation and London child protection procedures.
• Experience working with multicultural communities.
• Experience working with interpreters.
• Experience applying evidence-based approaches.

Essential Skills

The successful candidate should be able to:

• Analyse complex information and make autonomous decisions.
• Contribute to complex problem-solving.
• Manage competing demands in a high-pressure environment.
• Provide specialist consultation to other agencies.
• Conduct specialist assessments.
• Develop effective social work interventions.
• Prepare high-quality reports.
• Present information effectively in formal settings.
• Work effectively within multidisciplinary and multi-agency environments.

Training and Professional Development

SLaM provides professional development and learning opportunities for staff.

The role also includes professional social work supervision to support continuing professional development.

Certificate of Sponsorship / Visa Sponsorship

Applicants requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome to apply and will be considered alongside other applicants.

Applicants must still meet the relevant immigration, professional registration and job requirements.

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

The person specification specifically requires registration with Social Work England.

DBS Check

This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

About South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s major providers of mental health services.

The Trust works closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London and King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.

SLaM employs around 5,000 staff and operates more than 230 services across inpatient, outpatient and community settings.

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity may suit experienced social workers with:

• Current Social Work England registration.
• Strong adult mental health social work experience.
• Experience handling complex cases.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and mental health legislation.
• Multidisciplinary team experience.
• Strong assessment and report-writing skills.

Application Deadline

Closing date: 2 September 2026

Apply before the deadline

Employer Contact

Ward Manager: Ian Ssenyonga
Email: Ian.Ssenyonga@slam.nhs.uk
Telephone: 07849734111

Employer

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust