Social Worker - Discharge Outreach Recovery Service

West Sussex County Council; Ferring; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

West Sussex County Council is seeking an experienced Social Worker for the Discharge Outreach Recovery Service. The role focuses on strengths-based assessments, safeguarding, and developing support plans to improve wellbeing.

Based in Worthing with hybrid working options, the post is full-time (37 hours) on a fixed-term contract to 31 March 2027, at salary £41,177–£48,738 per annum. Driving may be required for county-wide visits.

Qualifications

• Experience conducting strengths-based assessments in complex situations.
• Proven leadership when working with people, carers and external agencies.
• Experience managing risk using a risk enablement approach.
• Ability to analyse complex information to prioritise needs and plan interventions.
• Experience leading safeguarding enquiries.

Responsibilities

• Carry out strengths-based assessments in customers homes after input from DORS.
• Occasional hospital social work duties.
• Office base at Arun Civic Centre; weekly attendance and team meetings.
• Develop and implement support plans to improve wellbeing and outcomes.
• Collaborate with staff and voluntary agencies; stay informed of relevant legislation.

Skills

Strengths-based assessment

Leadership in partnerships

Risk enablement

Data interpretation

Safeguarding

Education

Social Work degree / DipSW

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

Social Worker - Discharge Outreach Recovery Service

About Us

Working for us at West Sussex County Council is all about making a positive difference to the people of West Sussex. This is a great opportunity for you to join us as an experienced qualified social worker.

We're embracing a strength based approach and working within a community-led support model that builds on the assets and strengths of both people and their local communities. Together, we'll focus on prevention, enablement, reablement and safety, to promote wellbeing and independence.

We'll ensure that residents, families, and communities have the right support in place, and at the right time. We provide a working environment that values professional supervision and offers the right balance between challenge and support.

This provides our workforce with what they need to deliver the best possible outcomes for our residents. We work to ensure that innovation and evidence-based practice underpins what we do and that we maintain an environment within which our social workers can develop and progress in their careers.

About The Job

Salary: £41,177 to £48,738 per annum (grades 10 to 11)
Working Pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week
Contract Length: Fixed term contract until 31/03/2027
Location: Office base is Arun Civic Centre

Interview Dates: w/c 23rd November

This is a community role carrying out assessments in customers homes following input from Discharge Outreach Recovery Service (DORS). You will also spend some of your time carrying out Hospital Social work duties. The successful applicant is expected to come to the office in Arun Civic Centre once a week and for team meetings.

As a Social Worker/Senior Social Worker, you will be part of a dynamic social work service conducting strengths-based assessments in complex situations. You will apply relevant legislation and advanced social work skills to develop and implement support plans that enhance wellbeing and achieve positive outcomes, while also contributing to safeguarding efforts.

You will apply your social work skills to develop and implement support plans that improve wellbeing and meet eligible needs, while utilising community assets.

You will manage a complex caseload, collaborating with individuals and their family or friend carers, conducting strengths-based assessments and reviews to identify eligible needs and personalised outcomes.

You will collaborate effectively with staff and voluntary agencies, demonstrating a strong understanding of relevant health, voluntary, and private services in the area. You will stay informed and compliant with legislation, organizational procedures, policies, and the Social Work England professional standards to maintain a high-quality, seamless service.

Your office based will be 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.

If you are a grade 10 social worker applying for a grade 11 senior social worker post to progress and you are an internal applicant please follow the internal progression process.

Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role will be considered for a secondment position. Please can you therefore discuss and agree this with your manager before applying for this position

Experience and Skills

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

• Experience of working proactively as a member of the team to make an
  accurate strengths-based assessment of needs in complex situations and
  negotiate and implement effective plans and outcomes (in line with relevant
  legislation).
• Demonstrable evidence of 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,
  utilising a risk enablement approach and using 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 on safeguarding enquiries.

Qualifications and/or experience:

• A Degree in Social Work or a recognised equivalent Social Work qualification e.g., Diploma in Social Work.
• Registered with Social Work England
  Experience of undertaking assessments in complex situations and social work
  intervention planning, implementation, and review by means of creative and
  pragmatic solutions.
• Extensive experience of working in partnership with those who access the
  service and maintaining a focus on the needs and strengths of the people,
  and the outcomes they want to achieve, whilst handling conflict and
• Experience of managing risk within a risk enablement approach
• Excellent, up-to-date working knowledge of relevant legislation e.g., Care Act
  (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2005) etc.
• Valid, full driving licence. Desirable

Please read the job description and take note of the key skills section as they will be used alongside the qualification and experience listed above, as short listing criteria. Here is the link to the job description.

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 & 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 the essential criteria), this can be found on our application help page.

We recognise applicants may use AI tools to support their application. This might include assistance with structuring content, improving clarity, or checking spelling and grammar.

The council values authentic applications, in you own words, which reflect your experience and skills and how these align with our values. During assessment and interview stages, candidates may be asked to expand upon, or demonstrate, the experience they have described in their application. To help you structure your responses, use this guidance on the STARR technique.

Applications found to contain misleading, false or wholly AI-generated content may be rejected.