This refreshed version of the guidance (originally published by Health Education England in 2021) has been updated in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care and in consultation with a range of stakeholders.
The document outlines eight organisational requirements for effective support of the social work profession in mental health services wherever they may work. It supports and enhances the role of social work in health and care organisations by:
- advising on how to successfully employ and support social workers in a variety of partnerships
- helping the NHS to embed social workers as a key staff group and support registered social workers already employed in generic teams
- identifying the actions on leadership, engagement and workforce that strengthen social work’s role in mental health care.
Who it's for
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NHS professional and clinical leads
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Professional bodies and regulators
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Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) leads
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Chairs of NHS Boards
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Workforce leads
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System and transformation leads
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Mental health commissioners
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People Boards
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Integrated Care Systems
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Social work in other roles and settings.
Key messages
- Social workers are an essential part of the workforce in health and social care for both adults and children. The profession is recognised for its distinct values and the transformative, relational and rights-based principles and practice that it brings to work with communities, families and individuals.
- Social workers and AMHPs employed in NHS services need effective support, supervision and progression as a regulated profession to achieve their full impact.
Impact on those receiving services
This guidance should encourage the NHS to directly employ more mental health social workers. Having mental health social workers as part of the multi-disciplinary team offers patients better, more holistic care and a rights-based perspective, which is truly person-centred. They emphasise preventive care and independence for people who need care and support. Their skills are essential to meet the requirements of the NHS Long Term Plan.
PDF - 17,771 Kb
This guidance sets out eight organisational requirements for effective support of social workers in mental health services wherever they may work.
PDF - 205 Kb
A range of useful materials to help implementation of the guidance including links to short films and targeted slide sets.
Related resources
Related videos
David Bradley and Carla Fourie
Chief Executive David Bradley and Director of Social Care Carla Fourie discuss how the Guidance can support organisations to develop their workforce to meet its full potential and provide holistic care for the people they serve.
Eugene Jones
Eugene Jones is Chief Operating Officer of Southern Health and welcomes an approach that sees social workers as an answer to more systemic, sustainable provision of care that includes prevention, recovery and longer-term impacts.
Bryan Lynch
Bryan Lynch is Director of Social Work at Sussex Partnership explains how he and colleagues have used and adapted the Guidance to suit the needs of their organisation and help them think strategically about recruitment and retention.
Colleen Simon
Head of Social Work at Central and North West London Colleen Simon discusses how partnership working with local authorities is high on the agenda, as well as development of mentoring and career pathways.
Rachael Willis
Rachael Willis is Director of Social Work at Lancashire and South Cumbria and outlines how the Guidance helped her to bring together ideas and strategy on social work leadership within the Trust and develop training in relationship to AMHPs, CPD and student placements.
Celia Dunn
Celia Dunn, Principal Lead Social Worker/Approved Mental Health Professional, Associate Senior Lecturer in Social Work, Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust.
Mental Health Social Work in the NHS:
The Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Good Practice Guide for NHS Employers
Mental health social work plays a vital role in delivering compassionate, effective, and person-centred care within NHS and other mental health services. As newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) transition into their professional roles, the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) provides an essential framework to support their development, confidence and capability.
The Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Good Practice Guide for NHS Employers is designed for NHS employers, offering a comprehensive resource to implement and enhance ASYE programmes for mental health social workers.
Explore the guide to discover how your organisation can champion excellence in mental health social work and contribute to the growth of a resilient, skilled workforce.
PDF - 3218 Kb
This guide outlines key principles, recruitment strategies and key areas to consider in order to create supportive environments that enable NQSWs to thrive, ultimately enhancing the quality of care for individuals and communities.
There is also a
good practice example case study that supports the guide.