Senior Social Worker Childrens Disability Service

Job Description

Social workers love working in East Sussex because they feel valued and supported.”
– Ofsted Report, 2024

Join Our Dedicated Children’s Disability Service (CDS)

We’re looking for passionate and skilled Social Workers to join our Children’s Disability Service (CDS) — a small, specialist team supporting some of the most vulnerable children and young people in East Sussex.

Our Social Workers are trained to understand and respond to the unique challenges and risks faced by children with disabilities. Even if you haven’t worked directly in this field before, we provide bespoke training and development opportunities to help you build your expertise in this area of practice.

At East Sussex County Council, we are committed to high standards, innovative practice, and supporting our teams with a strong culture of care, supervision, and growth. We have high aspirations for the children and young people we support, and we are proud to deliver a creative, ambitious, and child-focused service.

What Makes Us Different?

Connected Families Intervention Practitioners (CFIP) – Our new initiative brings Social Workers and CFIP practitioners together in a multi-agency approach. Social Workers focus on direct work with children, while CFIP practitioners provide support to parents and carers. Together, they co-produce family assessments, participate in regular multi-agency peer supervisions, and strengthen outcomes through collaborative practice.

We’ve also developed our own model of ‘Connected Practice’, which prioritises strong, meaningful relationships with children and families. You’ll be encouraged to spend more time engaging directly with those you support, using evidence-based, sophisticated interventions that create lasting change.

Our service is guided by a clear vision, strong leadership, and a supportive culture that values the quality of practice over bureaucracy.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking social workers who can:

• Build relationships using creativity, compassion, and professional authority, especially when facing resistance
• Carry out high-quality assessments and analysis, informed by research and theory, that feed directly into meaningful child-centred plans
• Champion diversity and inclusion, and offer thoughtful challenge where discrimination arises

Your Application – Let’s Keep It Simple

We understand that job applications can be time-consuming, so we’ve streamlined the process. Just click the ‘Apply Now’ button and upload your CV with a short covering letter. Please focus on these key areas:

• Your experience working with children and young people
• How you communicate and collaborate with others
• How you apply research or theory to your practice

Brief, focused, and with real examples—that’s what we’re looking for.

You can download the full Job Description and Person Specification for more detail.

Interview Process

Interviews will be held in person on 2nd and 4th July at St Mary’s House, Eastbourne.

We’ll ask you to speak about:

• Your direct work with children and young people
• Communication and professional relationships
• How you apply theory or research in your practice
• Your social work leadership skills

Ongoing Support and Development

Our exceptional Social Work Education Team is committed to helping you grow and develop—within your current role and beyond. We offer regular supervision, reflective practice, and opportunities for further training and progression.

Employee Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits including:

• A generous Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Access to wellbeing and mental health support
• Professional development and career pathways
• Reimbursement of your Social Work England registration fee
• And much more—explore our full Benefits Page

Note: The salary for this role includes a time-limited market supplement, which is under review in July 2026. Visit our Salary Scales page for full details of base pay.

Want to Know More?

Claire Collerson, Operations Manager
Claire.Collerson@eastsussex.gov.uk
01323 466050

Additional Information

This role requires an Enhanced DBS check (including Regulated Activity). For more information, visit gov.uk/dbs-check.

If you have lived or worked abroad, an overseas police check will be required.

If you require UK visa sponsorship, please mention this in your application so we can assess eligibility. Learn more at gov.uk/work-visas

We welcome and encourage applicants who need reasonable adjustments—please contact us if you need support at any stage of the recruitment process.

Bring your skills, your passion, and your compassion—and make a real difference in the lives of children with disabilities.