Social Work Assistant

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview
Do you want to work as part of an innovative High Dependency Recovery and Rehabilitation service?

An opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Social Work Assistant to join our Social Work team.

78 Crawley Road is a modern, state of the art rehabilitation hospital that comprises an 8-bed intensive rehabilitation unit and 16 individual bungalows designed around a central landscaped courtyard.

The design offers exceptional opportunities to people with severe enduring mental health problems and works closely with local Adult Mental Health Services - acute and community services, and Secure and Forensic Healthcare Services.

Working as member of the multi-disciplinary team, you will be part of the service that is supporting people with complex needs and their families to realise new goals and rewarding opportunities through a comprehensive recovery programme.

Car driver essential

Main duties of the job
To work with the Social Work team at 78 Crawley Road High Decency Recovery and Rehabilitation service to provide support to patients with a wide variety of social care tasks including welfare benefits, financial difficulties, housing matters, home visits and practical issues on admission/discharge, carer liaison and support.

Liaison with the multidisciplinary team, families and outside agencies such as housing and police.

Working for our organisation
SPFT is an organisation which is committed to improving patient care. We are always trying to improve. We listen to and learn from feedback. We carry out healthcare research and put it into practice. We develop new ways of providing services in partnership with others and help staff develop through education and training. We also believe it's important to learn from when things go wrong and to encourage staff to speak out about anything they are concerned about.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To work with the Social Work team at 78 Crawley Road High Decency Recovery and Rehabilitation service to provide support to patients with a wide variety of social care tasks including welfare benefits, financial difficulties, housing matters, home visits and practical issues on admission/discharge, carer liaison and support.

Liaison with the multidisciplinary team, families and outside agencies such as housing and police.

Please read attached job description

Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria

NVQ2 in Care or equivalent experience
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria

Experience working with a health or social care setting
Experience of working with people with mental illness
Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children’s social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.