Senior Social Work Practitioner

About Us

Working for us at West Sussex County Council is all about making a positive difference to the people of West Sussex. The Mental Health Social Work Discharge Team (MH SWDT) has a vacancy for a full-time qualified Social Worker. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to work for a team that will form an integral part of a new model of discharge, being implemented in partnership with our colleagues in Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The team will work alongside a Discharge Hub, led by SPFT and will be responsible for managing the discharges for all complex social care discharges from acute and community mental health hospitals.

About the job

Salary: £46,731 to £49,764 per annum
Working Pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Contract Length: Permanent
Location: Bridge House, Worthing

As a Senior Social Work Practitioner, you will be responsible for providing a statutory social work service to individuals seeking or requiring specialised mental health services, and will assist in facilitating their discharge from the hospital.

You will work in partnership with the newly formed mental health hospital discharge hub, including completion of all statutory work such as Care Act assessments, s117 aftercare planning meetings, safeguarding, Mental Capacity Assessments, Best Interest Meetings, as well as any other social care-related tasks and functions.

The role will require a proactive approach and the ability to work effectively under pressure to ensure that all aspects of the individual's needs are addressed and integrated into the discharge process. You will contribute as part of a dedicated small team operating county-wide, specifically focused on discharge responsibilities.

Your office will be based in Worthing, with opportunities to work hybrid from home part of the week. You will need to take an organised approach whilst exercising your expertise with knowledge of policies and legislations to support those in need.

There will also be a requirement for you to work flexibly to support customers, carers, and families, sometimes out of normal office hours. You will be required to travel county-wide, including to locations that are not always easily accessible by public transport, so it is desirable for you to have a driving licence.

Experience and Skills

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

• Ability to analyse and interpret people-related information and data to prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
• Ability to work proactively as a team member to make accurate assessments of needs and negotiate and implement effective plans and outcomes, ensuring regular reviews and risk management with various individuals, carers, or families. Evidence of effectively prioritising work and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to undertake direct work with those who access or need the service to support individuals.
• Ability to recognise the limits of own accountability and responsibility, and to seek appropriate support, advice, and supervision.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and oral formats, including explaining complicated information to a wide range of people and negotiating and persuading others to adopt a particular course of action.
• Sound and accurate IT and keyboard skills.
• Degree in relevant professional or equivalent qualification e.g. Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or Diploma in Social Work.
• Registration with the relevant professional registration body and responsibility for maintaining registration with that body.
• Approved Mental Health Professional (it is a requirement to have AMHP qualification or to be working towards the qualification to be completed within 2 years of appointment and to maintain level of knowledge).

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

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 CAFHE05701.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Rifat Khan (Service Manager Working Age Mental Health).

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 right to work within the UK, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, and a health check.

Equity, inclusion, and accessibility are 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.