Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for qualified Social Workers interested in working with women with complex mental health needs.

The post holder will join the multidisciplinary team on Melrose Ward, a Level 2 specialist mental health rehabilitation inpatient service for women, based at The Orchard Unit on the St Bernard’s Hospital campus. The ward provides trauma-informed, gender-sensitive care for women whose recovery has not been supported in previous placements.

The team delivers holistic, biopsychosocial care, with a focus on psychological therapies, occupational engagement, and community reintegration, supporting service users to build life skills and move towards independent living.

Melrose Ward offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an innovative, recovery-focused model of care across Local Services and West London Forensic Services.

You will manage a ward-based caseload alongside structured learning, development opportunities, and regular supervision, within a supportive Social Work team.

Experience in inpatient or complex needs settings is desirable but not essential, provided transferable skills can be demonstrated.

Main duties of the job

West London NHS Trust delivers a Social Work service across all working-age adult wards at St Bernard’s Hospital. With the exception of Melrose Ward, these are forensic settings, although not all patients are restricted or detained under forensic sections of the Mental Health Act. Social Workers are embedded within well-resourced multidisciplinary teams and contribute to risk assessment and care planning from admission through to discharge.

The service focuses on meeting the social care needs of patients and operates in line with the Forensic Mental Health Social Work Capabilities Framework (2016), offering opportunities to work across a range of specialist areas.

As a frontline Social Worker, you will manage a balanced caseload alongside structured learning and development opportunities. You will build skills in risk assessment and management, effective multidisciplinary working, and the application of legal frameworks relating to mental health detention and mental capacity.

The role includes direct patient work, completing statutory assessments, preparing formal reports, and identifying and implementing safeguarding processes. You will also work closely with families and carers and collaborate with partner agencies, including MAPPA, the Probation Service, the Victim Contact Scheme, and Adult and Children’s Social Work colleagues within local authorities.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation. 

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.  

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’. 

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.