Advanced Assistant Care Manager - Changing Futures Programme

About Us

Changing Futures is a Pan Sussex system change programme focussing on improving the system for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. It is one of 15 national Programme's bringing together public and community sector partners to redesign ways that local systems and services are delivered, designed and commissioned to better meet the needs for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage. Multiple disadvantage is defined by the national Changing Futures Programme as 'people who experience three or more of: homelessness, current or historical offending, substance misuse, domestic violence and mental ill health'. To find out more please visit Social Care | Changing Futures Sussex.

The Changing Futures Programme Sussex aims to create an environment where individuals experiencing multiple complex needs, who repeatedly fall through the net of service provision, receive flexible, trauma informed, person-centred support. The Programme aims to enable positive changes in services; to make them better connected, and easier to access. Changing Futures Sussex works in partnership and is embedded across the three Local Authority areas: East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton & Hove.

You'll work alongside colleagues from the Communities Directorate, Adult Social Care, and third-sector organisations in a newly developed team. Together, we bring a range of expertise to deliver intensive, holistic support for a small caseload of people across West Sussex who face multiple disadvantages - including homelessness or insecure housing, involvement with the criminal justice system, substance use, domestic abuse, and mental health challenges.

About The Job

Salary: £31,586 to £34,314 per annum
Working Pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed-term until March 2026*
Location: Office-based in Shoreham, covering the Adur, Arun, and Worthing areas
Interview Date: Week commencing 19th May

*If you're an internal candidate, this position may be available as a secondment. Please ensure you discuss this with your manager before applying.

We're excited to offer an opportunity for an Advanced Assistant Care Manager to join the Changing Futures Programme Sussex, as part of a dynamic multi-disciplinary team (MDT) within the Communities Directorate at West Sussex County Council.

Your Key Responsibilities

As an Advanced Assistant Care Manager, you'll:

• Provide intensive, person-centred support to help individuals lead meaningful, independent lives.
• Undertake strengths-based assessments under the guidance of a Social Work England-registered social worker and help develop and implement care and support plans that improve wellbeing and deliver outcomes.
• Carry out risk assessments and assessments under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, appropriate to your skills, knowledge, and experience.
• Represent Adult Services in multi-disciplinary forums related to housing, homelessness, substance misuse, and self-neglect.
• Manage a small budget for emergency provisions and subsistence to support people in urgent need.

In addition, you'll need to build a working knowledge of housing legislation and understand how it intersects with adult social care responsibilities.

What You'll Need

This role requires flexibility and resilience. You'll need to:

• Work flexibly to support customers, carers, and families as needed.
• Travel across the county, including to locations not easily accessible by public transport.
• Be comfortable working with individuals who may be living in unsafe or unhygienic conditions and engaging in high-risk lifestyles.

A key aspect of this role involves identifying systemic barriers, adopting creative approaches, and contributing to continuous learning and development across the team.

Experience and Skills

Key Skills (please cover with examples within your application as these are the short listing criteria):

• Ability to develop and deliver innovative solutions for individuals, to engage with community assets and minimise the need for long-term formal support.
• A passion for enabling people to live independent and meaningful lives that meet their personal aspirations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders to provide clear advice and guidance.
• Ability to recognise the limits of own accountability and responsibility, and to know when to seek appropriate support, advice and supervision.
• Ability to develop relationships within a multi-agency working environment that has contributed to improvements to individuals and or services.
• Experience of working within the statutory requirements of Adult Social Care, with experience of working in a hands-on role.
• Experience of strengths-based assessment of needs, and negotiating and implementing effective plans and outcomes working in partnership to meet people's outcomes.
• Experience of working with adults with homelessness, current or historical offending, substance misuse, domestic abuse, and mental ill health.
• Experience of applying a risk enablement approach and using evidence-based practice.
• Knowledge of a variety of associated legislation, for example Care Act, Mental Capacity, safeguarding, housing regulations, tenancy law.
• Good working knowledge of District and Borough housing sector

Further Information

For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check.

West Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer committed to promoting an environment that is inclusive and free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity of its people. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and take every possible step to ensure that no individual will be disadvantaged.