Social Worker

Brighton & Hove City Council; Brighton; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Brighton is seeking a full-time Qualified Social Worker to join the Discharge, Assessment and Response Team (DART) at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. The ideal candidate will provide social work support for safe patient discharges, working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to promote recovery and independence. Candidates must be registered with Social Work England and possess strong assessment skills. The position offers a supportive environment with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Cycle to Work Scheme

Paid parking and secure bicycle parking

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Comprehensive knowledge of legislation including Care Act and Mental Capacity Act.
• Experience in fast-paced multidisciplinary environments.

Responsibilities

• Undertake assessments of patients and their families.
• Collaborate with individuals and families adhering to legislation.
• Support safe transitions from hospital to home.

Skills

Strong assessment and communication skills

Knowledge of Care Act

Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England

Job description

• Directorate BHCC: Homes and Adult Social Care
• Contract Permanent
• Closing Date Apply by 4 January 2026

Working hours

• Working hours 37
• Closing date 4 January 2026

Job category

• Job category Social Work - Adults

Organisation

• Organisation Brighton & Hove City Council

Location

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Job introduction

Qualified Social Worker - Discharge, Assessment and Response Team (Acute Hospital) (DART) – Permanent.

We're pleased to offer a fantastic opportunity for one full time qualified Social Worker (37 hours per week) to join our supportive and friendly Discharge, Assessment and Response (DART) Social Work team, based in the heart of vibrant Brighton and Hove. Our Social Workers provide Social Work support to, and work in partnership with the wards at the Royal Sussex County Hospital to enable safe discharges of patients from hospital.

Position Available:

• 1 Full-Time Permanent Social Worker (37 hours per week)

For an informal discussion please contact Carl Killeen (Operations Manager) on 01273 696955 x64001

About the role

About the role

• We are seeking one full-time qualified Social Worker to be based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. They will provide Social Work support, undertake assessments and recommend provision to patients and families to empower and enable them to achieve their maximum potential for recovery, independence, and quality of life in their community or other locations to meet their needs.
• Social Workers’ who are registered with Social Work England, who is equipped with strong assessment and communication skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act, is essential. In addition to having excellent, assessment and communication skills and knowledge around Safeguarding and the management of risk.
• The role is perfect for those who thrive in a fast-paced, supportive and friendly multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Undertake assessment of need with patients and their families, with an aim to facilitate their transition from acute hospital care to their homes, or alternative community settings, where care can be provided alongside rehabilitation and support services, promoting recovery, independence, and long-term wellbeing.
• Collaborate with individuals, families, and carers, adhering to statutory legislation and embedding strengths and relationship-based practice in assessments.
• Demonstr confidence in Safeguarding vulnerable adults and assessing risks.
• Understand the critical role of information and advice in promoting independence and wellbeing.
• Promoting Social Work, contributing valuable expertise and working alongside and in partnership with our Health colleagues including nursing staff, therapists and Consultants and contributing and playing a key part in the weekly multi-disciplinary meetings.

Our Team's Focus:

• Delivering high-quality, strength based and person-centred Social Work supporting the Royal Sussex County Hospital to enable safe discharges from hospital. This includes undertaking Care Act Assessment of need and Mental Capacity Assessments.
• Undertaking Safeguarding and Section 42 Enquiries for vulnerable adults.
• Professionalism and a commitment to ongoing professional development are the keystones of our practice and very much encouraged.
• This is an exciting time to join our team with the introduction of the Transfer of Care Hub, changes within the Discharge to Assess (D2A) model and with Brighton and Hove HASC working towards and preparing for the imminent CQC inspection.
• The Louisa Martindale Building at the new, modern, and spacious Royal Sussex County Hospital has recently opened. The multi-agency teams on the wards have an established, strong, effective, supportive multi-disciplinary approach with effective partnership working and systems in place to build upon.
• We pride ourselves on being a friendly and supportive Social Work team, thriving in a busy and sometimes challenging system and hospital environment. We are lucky to be based in our own offices in the Sussex Eye Hospital, Kemptown, Brighton, where there are local independent shops and cafés and its just a short stroll to the sea. The Royal Sussex has large communal spaces, a coffee shop and M&S food. There is paid parking near our office, and secure free bicycle parking is available too.
• We understand the benefits of being office based given the nature of our work and to support our team, however there are opportunities to work flexibly and we encourage a work/life balance.

Our Team

• Our Social Work team consists of 1 Operations Manager, 2 Senior Social Workers, 4 Social Care Workers, 10 Social Workers (including this line) and 1 Community Support Worker.

Other benefits

• You will have generous annual leave allowance, and Bank Holidays. Brighton and Hove Local Authority also operate a Cycle to Work Scheme.

Important - Please do not apply if you are not a qualified Social Worker and registered with Social Work England. Unfortunately, if you are not qualified and registered, your application will not be read.

Please read our Apply for a job at the council pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your Application Form and a supporting statement. Your supporting statement is the most important part of your application as it will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Application Form guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and (Supporting statement guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hoursor term-time only.

We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work life balance and team collaboration. These would be part of your individual working arrangements alongside any personal preference agreed with your manager in advance of joining. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team and travel to and from your contractual location would be at your own expense.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.