Haywards Heath (On-Site)
Contract, Full time
£38626 - £41511 per annum
37 hours per week
About Us
An opportunity has become available for a Social Worker who has enthusiasm, energy, drive, and commitment to join the fast-paced and supportive Hospital Social Work Team at Haywards Heath, Princess Royal Hospital.
It is an exciting time to join West Sussex County Council as we continue to introduce new ways of working in the hospitals to respond to the needs of the adult population.
The aim is making a positive difference to the people of West Sussex. The Hospital Social Work Team work within the Discharge to Assess model, responding within timescales to assess people recently discharged from hospital, assisting them with arranging any care and support they may need in the longer term to maximise their independence.
About The Job
Salary: £38,626 to £41,511 depending on experience
Working Pattern: Full time
Contract Length: Fixed Term contract until 31/03/2026
Location: Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath.
As an experienced Social Worker, you will be accountable for delivering a statutory social work service for those people who need it. You will be completing proportionate strengths-based conversations that enable maximum participation for the individual, planning, reviews, and safeguarding enquiries. You will be responsible for ensuring that you are up to date with key developments and that business change is successfully implemented.
In the hospitals, we are looking for a candidate who can work collaboratively with individuals and effectively into the future, building on good partnership working with health colleagues. You will need to work inclusively with a diverse range of stakeholders and promote equality of opportunity. You'll need to be able to manage conflicting and competing priorities while remaining resilient.
You will need to remain up to date and compliant with all relevant legislation and adhere to organisational procedures, policies, codes of conduct and the values of West Sussex. You will be expected to work with complex cases and work within the timescales of the Discharge to Assess Model. You will also support the duty function on a rota basis. There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public.
Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role will be considered for a secondment position. Please can you therefore discuss and agree this with your manager before applying for this position.
Experience and Skills
Key Skills (these are the short listing criteria so please cover within your application with examples):
- Solution focussed with the ability to analyse complex situations and provide forward thinking strategies and solutions that consider a variety of possible strength-based solutions, balancing risks, resources and desired outcomes.
- Good communication skills in order to influence in a multi-disciplinary setting and communicate clearly and effectively to explain complicated information to a wide range of people; able to negotiate and encourage others to adopt a particular course of action.
- Ability to take professional and personal responsibility for clear and accurate case recording, and maintaining up to date case work records on the West Sussex database.
- Ability to think creatively, innovatively, and laterally and to adapt to changing situations in a measured and flexible manner in order to tailor the advice.
- Ability to work proactively as a member of the team to make an accurate assessment of needs and negotiate and implement effective plans and outcomes, whilst prioritising workload and meeting deadlines.
- Demonstrate confident and effective judgement about risk and accountability in decision making.
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
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 Social Work England registration, , 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.
For information regarding your eligibility to apply for this role under our Disability or Veteran's Guaranteed Interview Scheme (if you meet the essential criteria), this can be found on our application help page.
Note for Recruitment Agencies: We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!