Senior Social Work Practitioner - St Richard's Hospital

West Sussex County Council; Mid Sussex; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative local council in England is seeking a Senior Social Worker to support community and hospital-based work. The role involves mentoring, quality assurance, and collaboration with health professionals. The ideal candidate will have a strong social work background, excellent communication skills, and a passion for promoting wellbeing and independence in vulnerable populations. This position offers a supportive work environment with a focus on staff well-being.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Supportive work culture

Potential for training opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in a supervisory role or training in supervision is essential.
• Expectation to undertake post-qualifying training in specialized roles.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the Team Manager in day-to-day operations.
• Supervising and mentoring team members.
• Quality assuring assessments and reviews.
• Promoting staff wellbeing.

Skills

Solution focused analysis

Highly developed communication skills

Ability to diagnose and interpret complex information

Creative and innovative thinking

Proactive team collaboration

Knowledge of social work legislation

Social work qualification

Registration with Social Work England

Coaching and mentoring experience

Valid full driving licence

Education

Degree in Social Work

Certificate of Qualification in Social Work

Diploma in Social Work

Job description

About Us

West Sussex County Council is a diverse organisation that provides services to more than 850,000 residents every day. If you’re wondering why you should join us, it’s because we offer a truly supportive culture‑one that’s second to none. Our employees are genuinely valued and respected, and we place a strong emphasis on work‑life balance.

We have a real focus on strengths‑based approaches and community‑led support; both you and the team will be working hard to support people to regain their skills and independence following their hospital admission wherever possible.

"After spending the majority of my social work career in community teams, I was excited, but also apprehensive to try Hospital Social Work. I knew the pace of work would be different and different pressures. I can honestly say that it has been a really positive experience for me. I have learnt so much in the last 18 months and really enjoy working closely with my health colleagues. The work is varied and interesting and no day is the same!" – Aimee

"This team has the best positive culture in any social work environment that I have ever worked in. The managers prioritise staff wellbeing and ensure that staff always feel valued, listened to, and contained. It is a busy team, but you never feel isolated or overburdened as the whole team helps each other and the manager is always available to offer direction and reflection on cases." – Liz

About The Job

Salary: Grade 12 £48,226 to £51,356 per annum

Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester

Interview Date: 8th, 11th or 12th December

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?

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

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. As a senior member of the team you will need to support and deputise for the Team Manager in their absence.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting the Team Manager in day-to-day operations
• Supervising and mentoring team members
• Chairing Best Interest Meetings
• Quality assuring assessments and reviews with a strengths-based focus
• Promoting and supporting staff wellbeing
• Contributing to complaint resolution and continuous service improvement
• Holding your own case load

You will be a confident and empathetic communicator – capable of managing expectations, delivering difficult messages sensitively, and finding alternative solutions in line with our approach. Experience in a supervisory role (or strong foundations and training in supervision) is essential.

Experience and Skills

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

1. 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.
2. Highly developed 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 and negotiate and persuade others to adopt a particular course of action that they may not otherwise wish to take.
3. Ability to diagnose, research best practice development, analyse and interpret complex or technical information to make effective and robust judgements, and write reports which consider business implications and make articulate recommendations considering the broader impacts on the business.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Ability to be proactive in having up-to-date knowledge and understanding of changes in legislation and effectively lead and supervise others and to provide coaching and mentoring when appropriate.
7. A recognised social work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or Diploma in Social Work.
8. Registration with Social Work England and responsible for maintaining registration.
9. Expectation to undertake post‑qualifying training in one or more specialised roles, i.e. AMHP, BIA and/or Practice Educator.
10. Knowledge of advanced theoretical social work concepts and practices, with demonstrable examples of dealing with a range of complex issues.
11. Experience of managing levels of risk within a caseload of safeguarding cases.
12. Experience of effectively coaching and supervising others, acting as practice role model and promoting exemplary practice.
13. Valid, full driving licence – Desirable

Further Information

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.

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.