Social Worker - Changing Futures Programme Sussex

Salary: £39,862 to £42,839 per annum
Working Pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed-term until March 2027
Location: Office-based in Shoreham, covering the Adur, Arun, and Worthing areas
Interview Date: week commencing 18th June

You will need to be able to travel independently around the county, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport. Pool cars and pool bikes are available.

You will work within a newly developed MDT alongside colleagues from the Communities Directorate, Adult Social Care, and third-sector partners. The team combines a broad range of skills and expertise in multi-disciplinary assessments and support services. Together, we take a holistic, assertive outreach approach to support a small caseload of clients across West Sussex who are facing homelessness (or insecure housing), involvement with the criminal justice system, substance misuse, domestic violence, and mental health challenges.

As a Social Worker, your role will be twofold:

• Providing intensive, person-centred support to help clients lead meaningful, independent lives.
• Undertaking traditional social work duties such as assessments, support planning, and reviews.

A key part of this role is identifying systemic challenges, working flexibly, and drawing on creative solutions and best practices to overcome barriers faced by people with multiple disadvantages. There is a strong emphasis on continuous learning and practice development.

Experience and Skills

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

• Ability to apply a risk enablement approach and use evidence-based practice.
• Ability to analyse and interpret people related information and data to prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
• Ability to provide informal supervision and develop the capabilities of less experienced social care practitioners, and to mentor and coach students and apprentices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders to provide clear advice and guidance and interventions.
• Ability to recognise the limits of own accountability and responsibility, know when to seek appropriate support, advice and supervision, and to prioritise and organise work and meet agreed performance expectations.
• Sound and accurate IT skills to ensure effective record keeping, compliant with data protection and respecting confidentiality.
• 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 and social work intervention planning, implementation and review by means of creative and pragmatic solutions.
• Good up-to-date working knowledge of relevant legislation, e.g. Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act(2005) etc.
• Valid, full driving licence-Desirable

Rewards and Benefits

How to Apply

Please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter. In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) 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 3 years referencing 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.