Adults’ social work in hospitals

At West Sussex we want our customers to live good, ordinary lives in the place they call home, with the people that they have grown to appreciate and enjoy.

We start by listening to the person, being curious about what they consider to be a good life and asking how we can work with them to achieve this.

You will be responsible for building trusted relationships, having conversations with people based on what matters the most to them and what they can do to enable them to lead and remain as independent for as long as possible and connecting them to the wider networks of support.

You will increase people’s self-esteem, enabling them to keep their dignity and understand their needs in the least intrusive way. You will work with them in their best interests by actively listening and respecting the diversity of the people you are working with.

We recognise that people are the experts in their own lives and communicate respectfully with them and about them. We think creatively and in challenging circumstances. We listen and do not exclude or oppress. We reflect on our practice and we are constantly learning.

My name is Wendy Shepherd and I lead the Hospital Social Work Services across West Sussex, as well as our Combined Placement and Sourcing Team.

I am very proud of my teams, particularly of what they have achieved during the pandemic. We deliver a unique service in West Sussex and we have fully embraced the discharge to assess model and work hard to ensure people have a timely discharge from hospital to the environment that is best for them.

They will have a social care assessment, which focuses on their strengths and abilities, and we support people to maintain their independence and to remain living at home wherever possible.

We have excellent relationships with our health partners across West Sussex and together we embrace a culture of collaboration and person-centred practice. Social work is a truly valued profession within these partnerships.

Good quality practice underpins our success along with a constant desire to learn and improve the services that we offer to the residents of West Sussex.

Please do get in touch if you want to know more about what we do and the career opportunities we have available, we would love to hear from you.

Wendy Shepherd, Head of Health, Hospitals and Sourcing

We have various roles across the hospital teams:

• Senior Social Work Practitioners (Grade 12) £45,441 to £48,474
• Senior Social Workers (Grade 11) £41,418 to £44,428
• Social Workers (Grade 10) £37,336 to £40,221
• Newly Qualified Social Worker (Grade 9) £33,945 to £36,648
• Assistant Care Managers (Grade 6 to 7) £25,119 to £29,777

We also offer support to newly qualified social workers to complete our assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) programme.

In these varied and challenging roles, you will work with both Health and Social Care colleagues to provide an excellent social work service. You will have a real focus on strengths-based approaches and community led support, working hard to support people to regain their skills and independence following their hospital admission, wherever possible.

You will be solution-focused with the ability to think creatively. With highly developed communication skills, you will also be excellent at working collaboratively and in partnership with others to be able to achieve the best outcomes.

For more details about these roles, please contact Deborah Clay, Team Manager.

• Email: deborah.clay@westsussex.gov.uk
• Phone: 033 022 28650 or 07540 641803 

All roles will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.