Lorina Hirst
Leicester,Leicestershire
Summary
I have been employed as a qualified Social Worker since 2001. During this time I have supported adults who have a range of complex needs affecting many areas of their lives.
I have supported adults living in the community with care needs arising from alcohol and substance misuse, mental illness and worked as a forensic social worker with adults within the criminal justice system who are transferred to hospital under the Mental Health Act, 1983 amended 2007.
I currently supervise Social Workers for adults with a wide variety of care needs whilst managing a case load. My work includes assessing adults who are currently serving custodial sentences.
I am passionate about supporting adults to reach their full potential and finding strategies to achieve change whilst reducing risk to themselves and others.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
23
23
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Practitioner, Community Social Work Team
Rutland County Council
Oakham, Rutland
10.2021 - Current
- Supervise Social Workers to meet Care Act, 2014 and Mental Capacity Act responsibilities for adults living in Rutland with needs arising from any illness or disability including mental illness and learning disability.
- Carry a case load to complete Care Act assessments and Mental Capacity Assessments to provide services to adults living in Rutland.
- Manage the allocation and complete Care Act assessments for prisoners at HMP Stocken with social care needs.
- Complete reports for Parole Hearings.
- Identify safeguarding concerns for adults and children living in Rutland and triage safeguarding concerns.
- Manage the review process for adults living in Rutland receiving packages of care.
- Support the team manager to run the team.
- Respond to crisis situations to maintain safety and reduce risk to adults with care and support needs living in Rutland and their families.
- Build strong positive working relationships with all members of Rutland Adult Social Care, partnership agencies, service providers and the adults and families whom we support.
Mental Health Social Worker
Rutland County Council
Oakham, Rutland
04.2019 - 10.2021
- Develop positive trusting relationships with adults and their families, living in Rutland with social care needs arising from Mental Illness
- Complete Care Act Assessments for adults living in Rutland with enduring mental illness including residents of HMP Stocken.
- Plan and monitor packages of care to meet the care and support needs of adults.
- Identify safeguarding concerns for adults and children.
- Complete Safeguarding enquiries.
- Complete Mental Health Tribunal Reports for adults living in Rutland detained under the Mental Health Act, 1983 amended 2007.
- Complete Mental Capacity Assessments for adults living in Rutland.
- Identify when adults are placing themselves or others at risk and when a Mental Health Act assessment is required.
- Consider risks to children and other vulnerable groups and escalate concerns.
- Work with partnership agencies and specialist services to assist to meet need.
Forensic Social Worker, Arnold Lodge Medium Secure
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Leicester, Leicestershire
10.2008 - 04.2019
- Build working therapeutic relationships with patients to assist to identify needs and work towards treatment goals.
- Complete Care Act Assessments for residents at Arnold Lodge to ensure care needs were met and support rehabilitation.
- Liaised with family members and carers throughout the patients in-patient stay at Arnold Lodge.
- Completed risk assessments for patients including risk to other adults and children and to themselves.
- Complete assessments for support required upon return to the community.
- Support patients to manage difficult situations through de-escalation techniques. Observe changes in behaviour and escalate concerns.
- Worked with probation services and local authorities to plan care and treatment.
- Complete Mental Health Tribunal reports and attend Tribunal meetings.
- Worked as the safeguarding lead for the ward and provided training to staff.
- Complete Care Programme Approach Reports and attend meetings.
Approved Mental Health Professional
Leicester City Council
Leicester, Leicestershire
01.2005 - 01.2012
- Part of Leicester City Council rota to complete Mental Health Act assessments for residents of Leicester City.
- Liaised with partnership agencies in health and the criminal justice system to gather information to ensure assessments could occur in a safe manner ensuring the environment was as calm as possible for the adult requiring care.
- Supported family members.
- Identified safeguarding concerns for adults and children.
- Assisted adults and family members to manage difficult circumstances through a calm approach.
- Communicated empathically with adults requiring care and family members.
- Build trust with adults requiring care and family members.
- Assess mental health needs and signpost to alternative services where appropriate.
Mental Health Social Worker
Leicester City Council
Leicester, Leicestershire
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Build relationships with adults to promote openness, build trust and identify and meet care need
- Complete Community Care Assessments for adults with Mental Illness
- Commission packages of care, maintain relationships with adult and monitor care plan to ensure meeting need.
- Observe patients wellbeing for behavioural changes or increased risk indicators to adult or others.
- Support adult to develop coping skills and solutions to recurring problems.
- Liaise with partnership agencies including the voluntary sector to maximise care and treatment plans.
- Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns and escalate where required.
- Support adult to recognise risk increasing factors.
- Identify when Mental Health Act assessment is required
- Complete Mental Health Tribunal reports for adults detained under the Mental Health Act.
Substance Misuse Social Worker
Leicester City Council
Leicester, Leicestershire
10.2001 - 01.2004
- Communicated empathically to build effective relationships with adults who misused alcohol and illicit substances.
- Completed thorough and holistic Community Care Assessments to aid person centred care and treatment plans.
- Liaised with partnership agencies to meet need.
- Complete risk assessments and work within safeguarding guidelines to reduce risk to adult or others including children.
- Support adults and their families to understand resources and services available.
- Provide emotional support
- Educate adults and families on available resources and services to assist to make care and treatment decisions.
Education
Masters Module - Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Birmingham Cit University
Birmingham 01.2019 - 03.2019
Post Graduate Diploma - Best Interest Assessor- Social Care
Birmingham City University
Birmingham 01.2012 - 04.2012
Post Graduate Diploma - Mental Health Award
Birmingham City University
Birmingham 01.2005 - 04.2005
BA Hons - Social Work
University of Lincolnshire and Humberside
Hull 09.1998 - 06.2021
Skills
Build positive therapeutic relationships with adults and their families
Positive attitude to enhance adults motivation to achieve change and develop skills
Working effectively with other agencies
Completing thorough holistic assessments that are person centred and recognise adults strengths
Skilled at recognising safeguarding concerns for adults, children and escalating concerns appropriately
Experienced at completing reports under statutory guidelines for Adult Social Care, Health and the Criminal Justice System
Keeping up to date accurate case notes which maintain confidentiality in line with data protection
Providing reassurance and support in a crisis situation and requesting support from appropriate agencies
Timeline
Senior Practitioner, Community Social Work Team
Rutland County Council
10.2021 - Current
Mental Health Social Worker
Rutland County Council
04.2019 - 10.2021
Masters Module - Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Birmingham Cit University
01.2019 - 03.2019
Post Graduate Diploma - Best Interest Assessor- Social Care
Birmingham City University
01.2012 - 04.2012
Forensic Social Worker, Arnold Lodge Medium Secure
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
10.2008 - 04.2019
Approved Mental Health Professional
Leicester City Council
01.2005 - 01.2012
Post Graduate Diploma - Mental Health Award
Birmingham City University
01.2005 - 04.2005
Mental Health Social Worker
Leicester City Council
01.2004 - 01.2008
Substance Misuse Social Worker
Leicester City Council
10.2001 - 01.2004
BA Hons - Social Work
University of Lincolnshire and Humberside
09.1998 - 06.2021
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