Job Description

About Us


West Sussex County Council is a diverse organisation that provides services to more than 850,000 residents every day. As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.



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, including individuals with physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, chronic health conditions, older adults, and people living with dementia.



We're proud to embed a strengths-based approach in our practice--supporting individuals to explore their networks, maximise independence, and access local community resources. We also 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.


"I love being a part of a supportive and friendly team and the close connections I have with my colleagues."

-- Senior Social Work Practitioner



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. If you have the talent and ambition to achieve the best for the people we serve, then we will support you to progress and develop throughout your social work career.



If you are thinking why join West Sussex there is a supportive culture that is second to none. You will receive regular, supportive and reflective supervision from senior social work colleagues, but you will also need to use your own initiative where appropriate. Employees are genuinely valued, respected and there is an emphasis on work life balance. Hybrid working helps us deliver a great service and our employees enjoy the flexibility this gives to carry out their role whilst fitting around their home lives.


About The Job

Salary:

27,472 to 32,516 per annum

Working Pattern:

Part time, 25.5 hours per week

Contract Type:

Permanent

Location: Littlehampton area with hybrid working and Worthing office base;

Successful candidate needs to be able to independently travel



We have an exciting opportunity for a Social Workers/Senior Social Workers to join our

Littlehampton Community Team

.



The Littlehampton team is a supportive and enthusiastic team and consists of a mixture of qualified social workers with varying experience and assistance care managers who work together to support residents on our area and each other to meet their full potential



Our Social Workers/Senior Social Workers have a really supportive working environment and inductions are well planned with help from across the friendly and considerate team. There are a mixture of qualified and unqualified team members, so whether it's in person, on the phone or even in the chat group there is always someone on hand to offer help and support.



The team work across Littlehampton and the surrounding areas, and have an office base in Worthing. As well as assessing you will be completing plans, implementing and monitoring and reviewing care packages. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives while building your skills in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Carrying out strengths-based assessments and reviews Undertaking safeguarding enquiries and Mental Capacity Act assessments Collaborating with individuals, families, and carers to identify eligible needs and develop personalised support plans Applying relevant legislation and social work practice to promote wellbeing and independence Making effective use of local community assets and resources Managing a varied caseload and contributing to the development of safeguarding practice within the team

You'll be part of a

supportive and committed team

that values professional growth, reflective practice, and shared learning. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives while building your skills in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment. You would also have the option to work on a hybrid basis.


Experience and Skills


Please review the job description for the key skills as these will be used as the shortlisting criteria so please cover with examples within your application)

Qualifications and/or experience:

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 and social work intervention planning, implementation and review by means of creative and pragmatic solutions.
+ 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 disagreement.
+ Experience of contributing to or undertaking safeguarding enquiries.
+ Experience of managing risk within a risk enablement approach
+ Good, up-to-date working knowledge of relevant legislation e.g., Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2005) etc.
+ 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


The reference number for this role is

CAFHE06060

.



For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Ellen Munkley (Team Manager) at ellen.munkley@westsussex.gov.uk. For issues or queries regarding your application please contact

hrrecruitment@westsussex.gov.uk

.

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 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.


Note for Recruitment Agencies: We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!



LOCATION

Worthing area

CONTRACT TYPE

Permanent

JOB TYPE

Adults' Services

CLOSING DATE

21 November 2025