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University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
About
Contact
- Address
- Trust Headquarters
- 250 Euston Road
- London
- NW1 2PG
- Contact Number
- 0845 1555 000
Find out more
open_in_new JobsSenior Social Worker for Adolescents
Accepting applications until: 30-Jul-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 30-Jul-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- University College London Hospitals
- Address
- 235 Euston Road
- Town
- London
- Postcode
- NW1 2BU
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Fixed term: 14 months (Maternity Cover until 24 September 2027)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Salary
- Salary
- £58,133 - £65,261 Per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 7)
Specialty
- Main area
- Paediatrics
The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a set of technology that can perform various tasks that typically required human intelligence. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role.
We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.
Further guidance can be found in the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to fair and transparent recruitment and requires applicants to provide accurate information, as misleading details may affect their application or employment and may be verified in line with the Fraud Act 2006. For further information please visit https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1.
Job overview
Senior Social Worker for Adolescents - Maternity Cover (until 24 September 2027)
Join UCLH as a Senior Social Worker for Adolescents and help deliver high-quality, age-appropriate support to young people with complex health, social, emotional and safeguarding needs. Based within our specialist adolescent service, this maternity cover post offers the opportunity to work with a skilled multidisciplinary team in a nationally recognised acute and specialist trust.
You will need strong social work assessment skills, confidence managing risk and safeguarding concerns, and a commitment to improving outcomes for adolescents and their families. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced social worker who is passionate about adolescent health, complex care and collaborative practice
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You will provide specialist social work input for adolescents aged 13-19 admitted to the unit, including young people arriving via A&E and those with long-term complex conditions. You will undertake timely assessments, contribute to risk management and discharge planning, respond to safeguarding concerns, and work closely with families, ward staff, CAMHS, adult mental health teams, local authorities and community services across the UK.
The role also includes supporting vulnerable young adults, contributing to best interest and multi-agency meetings, maintaining high-quality records, offering expert advice to colleagues, and deputising for the Lead/Consultant Social Worker when required.
Working for our organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit: Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.
At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.
We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.
Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.
We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.
We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.
You must already have the right to work in the United Kingdom or fully meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship; however, we can only consider these where all UKVI requirements are met. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role satisfy the relevant UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points‑based system criteria, as applications that do not meet these requirements cannot be progressed. For more information about the criteria, please click here
This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.
Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.
Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
1. Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- a. UK recognised qualification in Social Work
- b. Completed/completing Masters Degree
- c. Registered Social Work England
- d. Knowledge and understanding of child & adolescent development, parenting capacity, environmental factors and risk and protective factors
- e. Knowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance and the London safeguarding children Procedures
- f. Knowledge and understanding of a range of social work interventions and methodologies
Desirable criteria
- h. Knowledge & understanding of sickness and disability benefits
2. Experience
Essential criteria
- a. A minimum of 2 years post-qualifying experience working with children, young people and families with complex needs including child protection cases
Desirable criteria
- b. Experience of working with young people with long-term health conditions/disabilities
- c. Experience of working with young people with complex emotional/mental health needs
- d. Experience of working with young vulnerable adults
- e. Experience of working as part of a multi disciplinary team
3. Communication
Essential criteria
- b. Demonstrates a high level of consultative, interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including the ability to deal with complex issues in a sensitive and appropriate manner
- c. Communicates effectively verbally, in writing and in electronic formats
- d. Has ability to create a rapport and build relationships with young people, parents & carers
- e. Communicates with young people and carers in an empathetic manner
- f. Demonstrates understanding of good practice in Customer Care
4. Assessment & Care Planning
Essential criteria
- a. Ability to gather information quickly and effectively to inform judgement for interventions including in crises
- b. Ability to use assessment frameworks including risk assessments discerningly
- c. Ability to summarise, analyse and evaluate complex information
- d. Ability to make timely, realistic and safe care plans in conjunction with young people, carers, other members of the multidisciplinary team and outside agencies
5. Liaison and working in partnership with other agencies
Essential criteria
- b. Ability to develop and maintain effective interagency working relationships
6. Personal And People Development
Essential criteria
- a. Evidence of Comprehensive and up to date Continuing Professional Development
- b. Reflective in Practice
- c. Expects supervision that covers practice, organisational aspects of the role and the impact of work on self
Desirable criteria
- d. Experience of contributing to training programmes and delivering teaching to colleagues and other agencies
- e. Models the social work role & able to provide expertise and specialist social work advice, guidance and consultation to other staff
7. Quality
Essential criteria
- a. Understands importance of and own role in Clinical Governance and risk management
- b. Understands importance of quality assurance processes
8. Information processing
Essential criteria
- Willingness to work with electronic patient records (EPIC)
Desirable criteria
- Able to perform basic database interrogation as requested
- Able to collate simple datasets and present in a logical format
9.Financial Management
Essential criteria
- Willingness and ability to manage small sums of money from charitable funds
10. Resilience
Essential criteria
- Ability to thrive in a complex & at times emotionally challenging environment and demonstrate resilience
- Ability to work well under pressure and or in times of crisis.
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Shireece Henry
- Job title
- Consultant Lead Social Worker
- Email address
- [email protected]
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