Hi,
I am an NQSW looking for a qualified sw post. I would like to work in mental health and eventually train as an AMPH however I am also interested in other adult social work areas. My query is that, while I am applying for sw posts would it be a good idea to also apply for non-qualified mental health support roles in MH teams?
I have previously worked as a MH support worker (in the health service) so I would be returning to a similar previous role but I am a little wary that it might be difficult for me to then gain a sw position in the future due to lack of qualified experience. Am also a little concerned that I might not meet the PQ for re-registration if I work in a support worker role.
Thanks in advance for advice.
C
Hey there! I am also newly qualified and similar to you would like to pursue a career in mental health. I think due to lucky timing really I have been very fortunate to secure my first position in a cmht. Prior to securing it though I had decided to apply for any qualified position as it is the experience of qualified work that is valuable and transferable rather than the service user group.
Similar to you I worked as an unqualified support worker in a cmht prior to starting the qualification and the skills and knowledge you will have gained from that will help you in the future but I think personally that it would be pointless to go back to support work once qualified. You may have to work with a service user group that isn't your preferred choice or in a setting that isn't your preferred choice but ultimately qualified experience on your cv will stand you in much better stead when you go for future interviews...hopefully in mental health!!
Good luck with whatever you decide! : )
Hi GM1983,
Thanks for your reply,
Firstly congratulations on securing a Mental Health Post, that's great! you must be pleased!
Re the post: You've kinda echoed my thinking - and I suppose my fear! - I am applying for jobs in all sw areas I feel I could realisitically do as an NQSW, but, as of yet I have not been lucky in securing a post. I've seen a mental health support worker job in a CMHT which seems to carry some of the role of a social worker (without the AMPH duty) so due to the job situation am tempted...
However I am worried about pigeonholing myself in an unqualified role so think I might hang off and see if I can do some agency support work while looking for a sw job. Hope you enjoy your new post in MH!
Hi gm1983
I am also newly qualified and have an interview in a CMHT in a couple of weeks. I was just wondering if you could help me out and let me know the types of things they asked you at the interview. I really want this job and want to be as prepared as I can for the interview
Thanks
I have been working in a mental health team for the past two years and just in relation to interviews - a few likely questions
- What do you know about CPA and how it is used in a CMHT setting?
- Mental health and community care law (such as the Policy Implementation Guide for CMHT's, Nice guidelines for mental health, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act)
- Working with diversity and anti-oppressive practice (e.g. use of interpretors, culturally sensitive practice)
- Adult Safeguarding issues and procedures
I think if you want to work in mental health then just be aware (as you probably are) that it is as paperwork heavy as other areas with the additional emotional impact of sometimes working with some very vulnerable and needy people. Personally I think if you've done a social work degree then clearly you are capable of completing a social work role, and at this stage you owe it to yourself to try that rather than do support work. It would probably give you lots of confidence in your own practice. Social work experience in any area would stand you in good stead for getting a role in a mental health team eventually.
Good luck!
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” Maya Angelou
Hey there Novgal,
Firstly congratulations on securing the interview! Now it's just a case of trying to show how passionate you are about working in mental health and demonstrating your knowledge and experience to date. Just to add to what EmC. has said, I would make sure that you are very familiar with how a social worker fits into a multi-disciplinary team. Be very clear about what your role would be and what it's limitations may be. Consider the difficulties you may face in working in a multi-disciplinary setting; clashing value bases, medical model v social model etc and think about how you would work effectively alongside professionals from different disciplines.
I was asked to prepare a power point presentation prior to the interview which was based on the social worker role in a multi disciplinary setting. I will paste the questions I was asked in my interview but I was also asked questions relating to my presentation that's why I have suggested you consider the points I have made above.
1) We are all very interested to know why you want to work in mental health and in a cmht
2) This council is forward thinking, what would you bring to the cmht to help us progress?
3) Can you give a practice example of when you worked in a 'multi-disciplinary way'?
4) You have mentioned values, from a service user’s perspective what values do you think would be most important in this setting?
5) How are you with suicide…are you able to detach yourself?
6) Can you give an example of when some feedback you received about yourself changed your practice?
7) Can you expand on what you have already said about multi-disciplinary working…what are the difficulties in practice and how do you manage these?
8) Can you consider this scenario and how you would respond…you are on the duty desk and a person phones in and says they are feeling suicidal. What do you do?
9) We work with a number of service users who become inpatients. What would your role be whilst the service user was an inpatient?
10) What is your understanding of the Adult Support and Protection Act 2007 and how would you apply it? (Scottish Legislation)
Best of luck and let us know how you get on! : )
thanks so much for the help.
fingers crossed!!
I wanna be a mechanic but only work on volvos.