Social Worker - Sensory Services

About Us

West Sussex County Council is a diverse organisation that provides services to more than 850,000 residents every day. As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.

Our Sensory Services team have a unique focus, supporting adults born with sensory impairments, or acquired at any age. Many of the people the team work with also have lifelong physical disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, and brain injuries acquired at an early age. We also work with adults with sensory impairments acquired at any age (people who are Deaf, Deafblind, or who are visually impaired). The team offers a dedicated, strengths-based approach to disability that we know makes a positive difference. Whether we are engaging with people seeking advice, providing equipment or skills training, or starting a journey with people that may lead to a personal budget to meet complex needs, we are always looking to deliver the best outcomes.

We believe the best staff get the best outcomes. This is a rare opportunity for you to join our wonderful Sensory Services Team as a Social Worker. This team rarely need to recruit as once people join the team they don't want to leave.

About The Job

Salary: £36,363 to £39,152 per annum
Working pattern: 37 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent
Locations: Office base location flexible from one of our offices Horsham, Glebelands or Chichester. Hybrid working opportunities will be discusses at interview, with an expectation of 2 days per week in the office.

Are you passionate about making a difference? Our Social Workers are an integral part of the countywide team also made up of Vision Rehabilitation Specialists, Senior Practitioner Vision Rehabilitation Specialists, and Assistant Care Managers for deaf and hard and hearing and visually impaired people.

The post is working with people who have a sight and hearing loss, where this impacts day to day quality of life and safety, but potentially 2/3 of cases will be with people who have a sight impairment.

As a SW with someone who has a visual impairment that impacts on their independence and quality of life, where full vision rehabilitation using strength and needs based assessments has not been successful, some experience of working with people where the impact of sight loss is the main concern if preferrable.

In this role, you will:

• Use your skills and knowledge to develop and implement tailored support plans that improve wellbeing and deliver positive outcomes.
• Manage a varied caseload, providing a statutory, accountable social care service to those who access or need support.
• Undertake high-quality assessments and reviews, including Mental Capacity Act assessments.
• Respond to safeguarding enquiries and work collaboratively as part of a dedicated team.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies and legislative requirements.
• Participate in a duty system
• Negotiate with and on behalf of those people who access or need the service and with a wide range of providers and other professionals.

Please note that we can only consider people who have a qualification in British Sign Language (BSL) - Level 2 or above or a willingness to undertake training to achieve this qualification.

Experience and Skills

The following criteria needs to be covered, with examples where possible, within your application form:

Key Skills:
1. Good assessment skills, including the ability to ensure regular reviews and risk management with a variety of individuals, carers or families.
2. Able to effectively prioritise work and meet deadlines.
3. Able to analyse and interpret information and data, prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
4. Able to work in partnership with carers, colleagues and external agencies to deliver an effective service.
5. Able to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and oral format, including the ability to explain complicated information to others and use negotiation and persuasion skills to encourage others to adopt a course of action.
6. Able to recognise limits of own accountability and responsibility and seek appropriate support, advice and supervision.

Qualifications:
* Degree in relevant professional or equivalent qualification e.g. Certificate of
Qualification in Social Work or Diploma in Social Work.
* Registration with Social Work England and responsibility for maintaining
registration with that body.
* British Sign Language (BSL) - Level 2 or above or a willingness to undertake
training to achieve this.
* Valid, full driving licence.

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

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 all 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!