Social Worker/Senior Social Worker - Worthing Hospital

About Us

West Sussex County Council is a diverse organisation that provides services to more than 850,000 residents every day. This is a great opportunity to join us as an Assistant Care Manager in friendly Worthing Hospital Social Work Team that prides itself on their supportive culture.

Stacey, an Assistant Care Manager in the team, says "I enjoy working as an ACM as it is an opportunity to work within the social care sector - helping people with varying needs, supporting them to meet their outcomes and striving to make a difference. I really enjoy working in the team because of the wealth of experience my colleagues hold and the supportive nature of every member of staff"

Our hospital social work teams thrive in a high pace, high pressure environment where they can make a real and positive impact on people's lives. They have a varied and challenging workload; every day is different and offers an opportunity to learn something new.

Within the hospital, our social workers support the integrated discharge teams by sharing their professional expertise. Together, they work with some of the most complex patients and their families to enable a safe and rapid discharge from the ward. They also work with the emergency departments to avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital.

Within West Sussex, we have implemented a successful 'discharge to assess model'. Much of our hospital social workers' time is now spent carrying out assessments for people recently discharged from hospital. They support them and their families to make decisions about their longer term outcomes, with a strong emphasis on supporting people to return and remain at home, being as independent as possible.

About The Job

Salary: £39,862 to £47,181 per annum (grade 10 to 11 dependent upon experience)
Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Worthing 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.

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.

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

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.