About Us
Working at West Sussex County Council means making a real, positive difference to the lives of the people we serve. The Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service is seeking a full-time Senior Forensic Social Worker with demonstrable post-qualifying experience to join our team.
This is an exciting opportunity to further develop your skills within a busy Forensic Mental Health Service, supporting individuals who have been, or continue to be, involved with the Criminal Justice System. Our practice is grounded in a strengths‑based, community‑led approach, building on the assets and strengths of individuals, families, and local communities.
Together, we focus on prevention, enablement, reablement, and safety, promoting wellbeing and independence while ensuring that residents, families, and communities receive the right support at the right time.
We offer a supportive working environment that values high‑quality professional supervision and provides the right balance of challenge and support. Innovation and evidence‑based practice underpin our work, creating a culture where social workers are encouraged to develop, progress, and thrive in their careers.
About The Job
Salary: £35,736 to £38,254 per annum
Working Pattern: Part time, 30 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Arun Civic Centre office base - countywide travel required
Interview Date: w/c 1st June
In this role, you will deliver an accountable statutory social work service to people who access, or may need to access, the service. This will include undertaking assessment, care planning, review, and safeguarding enquiries, as well as acting as Social Supervisor for individuals subject to Part 3 of the Mental Health Act.
A key aspect of the role is working in close partnership with colleagues across inpatient and community services, contributing to the delivery of a high standard of social work practice within a multi-disciplinary forensic mental health setting.
You will carry out your work with integrity, professionalism, and respect, ensuring that the needs, safety, and wellbeing of individuals remain central at all times. You will manage a complex caseload, working alongside partner agencies to address complex family dynamics, high levels of risk, and legal considerations.
You will work collaboratively with individuals and their families or informal carers to identify strengths, support networks, and community assets. Effective partnership working is essential, and you will demonstrate a strong understanding of relevant health, voluntary, and private sector services available locally.
You will be expected to remain up to date with legislation and best practice, working in line with organisational policies, procedures, and codes of conduct, as well as Social Work England professional standards, to ensure the delivery of a high quality, seamless service.
As a senior social worker, you will support and guide less experienced colleagues, helping them apply learning to practice and develop their professional confidence and capability. You will receive regular professional supervision and have a workload appropriate to your level of experience and development.
Key Responsibilities
* Managing referrals and undertaking day to day assessments
* Caseload management and care coordination
* Working with individuals in crisis while assessing and managing risk
* Undertaking adult safeguarding work
* Practising within relevant statutory and legal frameworks
Within this multi-disciplinary environment, you will also promote understanding of the social work role and forensic specialism, representing the profession to partner disciplines and agencies. You will contribute to quality assurance activity, support the achievement of service standards and targets, and work collaboratively with managers to drive continuous improvement in practice.
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 qualifications and experience:
* 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).
* Advanced knowledge of theoretical social work concepts and practices, with demonstrable examples of dealing with a breadth of complex issues and situations as well as theoretical, practical and procedural knowledge of social work and legislation relevant to the specialist area of the post e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act.
* Experience of effective partnership working and forming effective working relationships with individuals and colleagues, identifying issues, focusing on needs and handling conflict and disagreement. Good understanding of the necessity of working with partnership agencies including health, housing, learning, statutory, voluntary and independent sector.
* Experience of undertaking strengths based assessments in complex situations, including regular reviews and risk management with a variety of individuals, carers or families.
* Evidence of effectively prioritising work and meeting deadlines.
* Experience of managing levels of risk within a caseload of complex cases.
* Experience of leading on safeguarding enquiries.
* Experience of effectively coaching and supervising others, acting as a practice role model and promoting exemplary practice.
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 all the essential criteria), this can be found on our application help page.
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