Job overview

The Vulnerabilities department brings together a number of services within the trust including, Maternity, Children and Adult Safeguarding, Social Work, the KHP Homeless Service, Violence Reduction, specialist MH, Learning Disabilities, Domestic Violence and End of Life Care under one model. This new department is an innovative approach for Kings College Hospital, with the aim of developing a holistic and responsive service to risk and vulnerability within all hospital sites.

The post holder will work collaboratively with the Deputy Head of Social Work, to provide high quality social work service to the division and the wider trust, managing a range of existing social work posts. They will also manage the Kings Health Partners (KHP) Homeless Service, in partnership with GSTT, providing cross-site management support of any posts that fall under the jurisdiction of the homeless service. In addition to the line management of this service they are also expected to lead in the strategic development of homeless services across the KHP Network.

Alongside these core duties, the post holder will be expected to work in partnership with the wider Vulnerabilities service, supporting duty functions in responding and addressing the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable patients across the trust. The candidate will be expected to perform their role across multiple hospital sites, including Guys and St Thomas Trust & Kings College Hospital

Main duties of the job

1.Provision of a high quality social work service to teams identified by the Deputy Head of Social Work, to be the principle link person with system partners for these services and to foster collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The post-holder is expected to work with Local Authority Adult Social Care and Housing Departments across London and report into the wider Safeguarding and Vulnerabilities service on emerging themes within the areas of social work and Homelessness. This role will require exclusive oversight of the KHP homeless team.

2.Management, supervision, support and professional accountability for Social Workers as agreed with the Deputy Head and Assistant Director of Social Work. This will include ensuring that Social Workers meet the requirements of Social Work England at all times are acting at the appropriate level descriptors on key Frameworks such as the Professional Standards (SWE) and Professional Capabilities Framework (BASW) for social work.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.