Social Worker/Senior Social Worker - St Richard's Hospital

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 St Richard's 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: £44,075 to £47,181 per annum (grade 11)
Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: St Richard's Hospital

Are you interested in working within a supportive environment, applying your social work skills to develop and implement support plans, and ensuring that eligible needs are met?

Working with the hospital team in this rewarding role, you will work with both Health & Social Care colleagues to provide an excellent Social Work service. In West Sussex, we have a real focus on strengths-based approaches and community-led support; both yourself and the team will be working hard to support people to regain their skills and independence following their hospital admission wherever possible.

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.

Please note that although the office base is at St Richard's Hospital this will is a community role carrying out home assessments, and some hospital based work.

Experience and Skills

Please be advised you with be shortlisted on your response explaining how you meet the key skills listed.

• 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 making.

Qualifications and/or experience:
* A recognised social work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or Diploma in Social Work.
* Completion of relevant post-qualifying training - Desirable
* Registration with Social Work England and responsible for maintaining registration.
* Practice Teachers Award / Practice Education (PEPS 2 level), Best Interest Assessor (BIA) - Desirable
* Expectation to undertake post-qualifying training in one or more specialised roles, i.e. AMHP, BIA and/or Practice Educator.
* Knowledge of advanced theoretical social work concepts and practices, with demonstrable examples of dealing with a range of complex issues.
* Experience of managing levels of risk within a caseload of safeguarding cases.
* Experience of effectively coaching and supervising others, acting as practice role model and promoting exemplary practice.
* Valid, full driving licence - Desirable

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 CAFHE05948.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Darren Ling (Acting Team Manager) at . 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 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!