Senior Social Worker - Worthing Community Team

West Sussex County Council; Goring-by-Sea; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Goring-by-Sea is seeking a Senior Social Worker to develop and implement support plans for adults with disabilities. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with agencies, support junior staff, and ensure adherence to relevant legislation. This role demands strong leadership, empathetic communication, and a thorough understanding of social work practices. A supportive work culture prioritizes work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England.
• Experience managing complex and competing risks.
• Valid full driving license.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement support plans to improve wellbeing.
• Support less experienced colleagues and provide supervision.
• Work in partnership with external agencies and other staff.

Skills

Empathetic communication

Strong working knowledge of Care Act 2014

Leadership skills

Risk management

Data analysis

Supervision of colleagues

Education

Degree in Social Work or equivalent qualification

Job description

Overview

The Worthing Community team fosters a supportive environment to apply social work skills to develop and implement support plans that aim to improve wellbeing and deliver outcomes. This includes utilising community assets and ensuring that eligible needs are met. As a Senior Social Worker you will support less experienced colleagues to apply learning and develop their capability and professional confidence. You will be supported with professional supervision and a workload appropriate to your level of professional development. You will work effectively in partnership with other staff and voluntary agencies and have an excellent understanding of relevant health, voluntary and private services in the area. You will remain up-to-date and compliant with all relevant legislation and adhere to organisational procedures, policies, and codes.

Responsibilities

• Be a confident and empathetic communicator-capable of managing expectations, delivering difficult messages sensitively, and finding alternative solutions in line with our approach.
• Demonstrate a strong working knowledge of the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and experience applying these in practice.
• Commit to the strengths-based model.
• Experience of working proactively as a member of the team to make accurate strengths-based assessments of needs in complex situations and negotiate and implement effective plans and outcomes in line with relevant legislation.
• Demonstrate leadership skills when working in partnership with people, carers, colleagues and a variety of external agencies in complex situations to meet people\'s outcomes.
• Experience of managing situations with complex and competing risks using a risk enablement approach and evidence-based practice.
• Experience of analysis and interpretation of complex people-related information and data to prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
• Experience of leading safeguarding enquiries.
• Ability to provide supervision and develop the capabilities of less experienced social care practitioners, including contributing to performance management; act as a mentor and coach for students and apprentices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders, providing clear advice, guidance and interventions.
• Ability to recognise the limits of own accountability and responsibility, and to seek appropriate support, advice, and supervision, while prioritising and organising work to meet agreed performance expectations.
• Sound and accurate IT skills to ensure effective record keeping, compliant with data protection and respecting confidentiality.
• Hold a Degree in Social Work or a recognised equivalent Social Work qualification (e.g., Diploma in Social Work).
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Valid, full driving licence.

About West Sussex County Council

West Sussex County Council is a diverse and inclusive organisation serving more than 850,000 residents. Our culture is supportive, with employees genuinely valued and respected, and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

Practice Context

Our Adults\' Community Teams offer an exciting and rewarding area of practice, giving social workers the opportunity to make a real difference in people\'s lives. We work with adults aged 18 and over who have cognitive and/or physical disabilities, with a particular focus on older people. We embed a strengths-based approach in our practice, helping individuals explore their networks, maximise independence, and access local community resources. We maintain strong partnerships with health colleagues through proactive care initiatives, including regular multidisciplinary meetings at local GP surgeries. Our community teams play a central role in fulfilling the statutory duties of Adults\' Services. A solid understanding of the Care Act 2014 is key, and our practitioners are skilled in safeguarding enquiries, person-centred assessments, and multi-agency working.

We are 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.