Social Worker

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, motivated Social Worker with relevant experience in Mental Health Services and an interest in the field of Perinatal Mental Health to join our Mother and Baby Unit in Winchester.

We are a nationally recognised service accredited under the Royal College of Psychiatrists Perinatal Quality Network. We provide 24/7 specialist care and treatment for mothers requiring acute inpatient admission during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy up to 1 year postnatally, enabling them to remain with and develop their bond with their babies.

We work to extremely high standards and are always striving to improve our service. We work closely with our service users and families to deliver holistic assessment and treatment with the voice of baby at the centre of our decision making. Safeguarding is embedded in the ward practice and the ward work closely with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Safeguarding team to ensure best practice is always followed.

We offer specialist training and as a service are committed to the professional development of our staff. You will receive regular supervision and support through ward management as well as having access to peer support and specialist supervision from Social Workers within the trust. You will be supported and encouraged to network with Social Workers on other Mother and Baby Units nationally to share good practice service development ideas.

For further details please contact Samantha Neale or Charlotte Swain on [contact hidden].

Main duties of the job

• To promote and provide expertise and guidance to the wider multidisciplinary team on a range of social care interventions.
• To observe the requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, The Care Act 2014, Care Programme Approach and related codes of practice.
• To plan and implement appropriate mental health and social care evidence-based interventions.
• To liaise with service users, families, other disciplines and agencies to monitor, evaluate and modify treatment.
• To monitor service users parenting capability in relation to their mental health and recognise any issues around safeguarding children.
• To embed the 6 safeguarding principles in safeguarding adults.
• To provide specialist advice, information and support on perinatal mental health to primary care including GP's, health visiting and maternity services.
• To make strong links with Statutory, voluntary and community agencies towards greater social inclusion.

About us

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.

Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.

We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.

Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence.

Details

• Date posted: 27 April 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part-time
• Reference number: 348-SAC-11050
• Job locations: Melbury Lodge, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5DG

Job responsibilities

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Certificate of qualification in Social Work/ Diploma or Degree in Social Work. E.g. DipSW , BA/BSc/MSc Social work
• Current registration with Social Work, England
• A record of continuing professional development (CPD)

Desirable

• Recognised professional assessors/mentor qualification.
• AMHP approved social worker.
• Training in supervision skills
• Leadership training
• Relevant clinical training qualifications related to children or maternal mental health
• Practice Educator Level 2 (or willingness to undertake this)
• Currently practicing as an AMHP (or willingness to undertake training)
• Post Graduate training relevant to mental health work in an appropriate speciality

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in an adult mental health environment.
• Experience working with A Family Approach to safeguarding.
• Evidence of working closely with other agencies e.g., Children and Families teams within statutory agencies, primary care teams and organisations within the voluntary sector.
• Ability to demonstrate detailed understanding of the relevant legal frameworks/legislation including CPA process, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, The Care Act 2014, The Children's Act and safeguarding both children and adults.
• Experience in conducting assessments.

Desirable

• Experience in both adult mental health and children's services.
• Knowledge and understanding of the needs of women suffering from perinatal mental illness through evidence of ongoing formal training.

Employer details

Employer name: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Address: Melbury Lodge, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5DG

Employer's website: https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Hiring Manager Charlotte Swain at [contact hidden] or [contact hidden].

Additional information

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.