Social Worker Discharge, Assessment and Response Team

Job introduction

Join our friendly and skilled Discharge, Assessment and Response (DART) Social Work team and help make a real difference to people’s lives at a pivotal moment in their recovery. As part of the Transfer of Care Hub, based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in vibrant Brighton & Hove, you’ll work closely and in partnership with patients, families, and health colleagues to ensure safe and timely discharges, supporting people to maximise their independence, wellbeing, and quality of life.

We are advertising for two full time Social Workers:

1 x 37 hours Permanent Contract

1 x 37 hours Fixed Term for 3 years This would be offered as fixed term to external candidates and may be offered as a secondment to internal candidates - Before applying, please ensure you have read the Secondment policy to ensure you are eligible to apply. In accordance with the policy, please ensure you have the written approval of your line manager before applying. Evidence of this must be included with your application.

About the role

What you’ll be doing

• Carry out Care Act assessments and Mental Capacity Act assessments with patients and families in hospital with patients and families to empower and enable them to achieve their maximum potential for recovery, independence, and quality of life in their community or other locations to meet their needs
• Work collaboratively with Transfer of Care and hospital colleagues – including Nurses, Therapists, and Consultants, amongst others – to enable safe, timely discharges and effective recovery planning.
• Undertake Safeguarding Enquiries (Section 42) and assess and manage risk.
• Provide information, advice, and advocacy to promote independence and prevent future needs.

What we’re looking for

• A qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England.
• Strong assessment, communication, and relationship-based practice skills.
• Sound knowledge of the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, Safeguarding, and risk management.
• The ability to work in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment with resilience and compassion.

Why join us

• Be part of a supportive, friendly team of 10 social workers, 4 Social Care Workers, 2 Senior Social Workers, an Operations Manager, Community Support Worker and Administrator.
• Work in the new Louisa Martindale Building and enjoy the facilities of the Royal Sussex County Hospital – plus our own office, just a short walk from the seafront.
• Flexible working opportunities, generous leave (25 days + bank holidays + 2 concessionary days), Cycle to Work scheme, and access to continual professional development (CPD).
• Real opportunities for career progression – many of our Social Workers have gone on to Senior Social Work roles, DoLS Assessor posts, Operations Management, Lecturers and more.

Next steps

We welcome applications from all qualified and Social Work England registered Social Workers. Unfortunately, we can only consider applicants who meet this requirement.

For an informal discussion or to visit the office before applying, please contact:
Carl Killeen – Operations Manager
Siobhan Cashman – Senior Social Worker
Anna Atkins – Senior Social Worker
01273 696955 x 64001

Application deadline: To be confirmed
Interview date: To be confirmed

Please read our Apply for a job at the council pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your Application Form and answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as it will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Application Form guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and (Shortlisting guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

*For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

Company information

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).