Social Worker UK Visa Sponsorship
Job Description
Employer: East Sussex County Council
Service: Adult Social Care
Team: Mental Health Hospital Discharge Countywide
Location: East Sussex, with hybrid working
Interview Date: 22 September 2026
Interview Location: Cavendish House, Breeds Place, Hastings, TN34 3AA
Make a Difference Through Social Work
East Sussex County Council is looking for an experienced and compassionate Social Worker to join its Mental Health Hospital Discharge Countywide team.
This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to adults who have received treatment for their mental health in an acute hospital setting. You will help people move safely from hospital into the most appropriate community setting, ensuring that their individual needs, choices and wellbeing remain at the heart of every decision.
You will work with both working-age adults aged 18–70 and older adults aged 70+, supported by a team that values its staff as much as the people it serves.
About the Role
The successful candidate will help deliver safe, effective and timely hospital discharge arrangements across East Sussex.
This is a new partnership-based service, bringing together East Sussex Adult Social Care, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) and voluntary-sector organisations. Working remotely across the partnership, you will contribute to developing practical and creative discharge solutions that put the individual at the centre of the process.
Your work will involve close collaboration with hospital teams, families, health professionals, community services and other relevant partners. Together, you will assess needs, identify appropriate support and work towards discharge plans that are safe, realistic and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
In this position, you will:
– Support adults throughout the hospital discharge process.
– Assess individual needs and contribute to appropriate care and support planning.
– Work collaboratively with health, social care and voluntary-sector professionals.
– Help identify safe and innovative alternatives to prolonged hospital stays.
– Ensure the person remains central to discussions and decisions about their discharge.
– Develop constructive relationships with individuals, families and professional partners.
– Contribute to effective communication between agencies involved in a person’s care.
– Manage your responsibilities with professionalism, initiative and a commitment to positive outcomes.
What We Are Looking For
We would like to hear from Social Workers who can demonstrate the following:
– Registration with Social Work England. Please provide your registration number within your application.
– Successful completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
– The ability to establish trusting and productive relationships with adults, relatives, carers and professionals.
– A proactive and self-motivated approach to your work.
– The ability and willingness to meet the travel requirements associated with the role.
– A genuine commitment to continuous learning, professional development and training.
– The ability to work effectively as part of a multi-agency team.
Relevant professional experience, education and wider life experience may all be considered when assessing your application.
Flexible and Hybrid Working
The role operates under a hybrid working arrangement. Depending on service requirements, your working pattern will include a combination of:
– Working from home
– Office-based duties
– Visits to clients and other relevant locations
You must therefore be able to travel when required as part of your responsibilities.
Please review the full job description and person specification before applying for further details about the position and essential criteria.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted through the Apply Now facility. You will need to provide:
– An up-to-date CV
– A detailed Supporting Statement
Your Supporting Statement will play an important role in the shortlisting process. Make sure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements listed in the person specification, using examples from your professional background, education, personal experience or relevant interests where appropriate.
Guidance on completing your application is available through the council’s How to Apply information, along with its guidance regarding the use of AI in applications.
East Sussex County Council may close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if a large number of suitable applications are received.
Interview Arrangements
Interviews are scheduled to take place in person on 22 September 2026 at:
Cavendish House
Breeds Place
Hastings
TN34 3AA
If you are unable to attend at the allocated time, please contact the hiring team. An alternative interview arrangement may be possible.
Certain applicants may receive priority during the shortlisting process where they meet the relevant criteria. Please consult the council’s Priority Status information for further details.
Employee Benefits
Working for East Sussex County Council comes with a broad range of benefits and professional support, including:
– A generous pension scheme
– Hybrid and flexible working opportunities
– Access to training and professional development
– Lease car scheme, subject to eligibility requirements
– Extensive wellbeing resources and wellness training
– Reimbursement of the annual Social Work England registration fee
– A wider package of employee benefits designed to support staff throughout their employment
Further information about the council’s benefits is available through its employee benefits information.
Informal Enquiries
If you would like to discuss the position informally before applying, you can contact:
Darlene Sellick
Practice Manager
Email: Darlene.Sellick@eastsussex.gov.uk
If you’re looking for social work that has a direct and lasting impact on people’s lives, East Sussex County Council would like to hear from you.
Important Recruitment Information
This position requires an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced DBS check for Regulated Activity through the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Applicants who have previously lived or worked overseas may also be required to provide evidence of an overseas police check.
For information about DBS checks and criminal-record requirements, please visit “GOV.UK – DBS checks for applicants” (https://reference-url-citation.invalid/0).
If the position is offered on a part-time or term-time basis, the stated salary will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis.
UK Visa Sponsorship
Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK should mention this in their application. The hiring manager can then assess whether the position and applicant meet the relevant sponsorship requirements.
For official information about UK work visas and immigration requirements, visit “GOV.UK – Work visas and immigration” (https://reference-url-citation.invalid/1).
Reasonable Adjustments
East Sussex County Council is committed to making its recruitment process accessible. If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments to participate fully in the recruitment or interview process, please contact the hiring manager using the details provided above.
East Sussex County Council — choose work that makes a difference.
