Senior Social Worker

About Us

Working for us at West Sussex County Council is all about making a positive
difference to the people of West Sussex. This is a great opportunity for you to
join us as an experienced qualified social worker.

We're embracing a strength based approach and working within a community-led support model that builds on the assets and strengths of both people and their local communities. Together, we'll focus on prevention, enablement, reablement and safety, to promote wellbeing and independence.

We'll ensure that residents, families, and communities have the right support in place, and at the right time. We provide a working environment that values professional supervision and offers the right balance between challenge and support.

This provides our workforce with what they need to deliver the best possible outcomes for our residents. We work to ensure that innovation and evidence-based practice underpins what we do and that we maintain an environment within which our social workers can develop and progress in their careers.

About The Job

As a Senior Social Worker, you will be part of a dynamic social work service conducting strengths-based assessments in complex situations. You will apply relevant legislation and advanced social work skills to develop and implement support plans that enhance wellbeing and achieve positive outcomes, while also contributing to safeguarding efforts.

You will manage a complex caseload, collaborating with individuals and their family or friend carers, conducting strengths-based assessments and reviews to identify eligible needs and personalised outcomes.

You will apply your social work skills to develop and implement support plans that improve wellbeing and meet eligible needs, while utilising community assets.

You will collaborate effectively with staff and voluntary agencies, demonstrating a strong understanding of relevant health, voluntary, and private services in the area. You will stay informed and compliant with legislation, organizational procedures, policies, and the Social Work England professional standards to maintain a high-quality, seamless service.

Your office based will be in Worthing, with opportunities to work hybrid from home part of the week. You will need to take an organised approach whilst exercising your expertise with knowledge of policies and legislations to support those in need.

There will also be a requirement for you to work flexibly to support customers, carers and families, sometimes out of normal office hours. You will be required to travel county wide, including to locations that are not always easily accessible by public transport so it is desirable for you to have a driving licence.

Experience and Skills

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

1. Experience of working proactively as a member of the team to make an
   accurate strengths-based assessment of needs in complex situations and
   negotiate and implement effective plans and outcomes (in line with relevant
   legislation).
   2. Demonstrable evidence of leadership skills when working in partnership with
   people, carers, colleagues and a variety of external agencies in complex
   situations to meet people's outcomes.
   3. Experience of managing situations with complex and competing risks,
   utilising a risk enablement approach and using evidence-based practice.
   4. Experience of analysis and interpretation of complex people related
   information and data to prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
   5. Experience of leading on safeguarding enquiries.

Qualifications and/or experience:

A Degree in Social Work or a recognised equivalent Social Work qualification e.g., Diploma in Social Work.

• Registered with Social Work England
  * Experience of undertaking assessments in complex situations and social work
  intervention planning, implementation, and review by means of creative and
  pragmatic solutions.
  * Extensive experience of working in partnership with those who access the
  service and maintaining a focus on the needs and strengths of the people,
  and the outcomes they want to achieve, whilst handling conflict and
  disagreement.
  * Experience of managing risk within a risk enablement approach
  * Excellent, up-to-date working knowledge of relevant legislation e.g., Care Act
  (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2005) etc.
  * Valid, full driving licence. Desirable

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Rewards and Benefits

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.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE05702

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Rifat Khan (Service Manager Working Age Mental Health)

For issues or queries regarding your application please contact .

To apply, upload your CV and complete the application explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV.

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to right to work within the UK, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.