Social Worker Children’s Disability Service

Job Description

Location: St Mary’s House, Eastbourne, BN21 3UU (On-site)
Salary: £42,752 – £48,871 per annum (Grade 11–12, includes market supplement until June 2026)
Hours: 37 per week
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Apply by: 9 June 2025
Interview Date: 25 June 2025 (at St Mary’s House or County Hall, Lewes)
Reference ID: Job Identification 267

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

Join a Specialist Team Making a Real Difference

East Sussex County Council’s Children’s Disability Service (CDS) is a small, specialist team committed to supporting the county’s most vulnerable children and young people. Our social workers bring insight, empathy, and expertise to work with children with complex needs — and if you don’t yet have experience in this area, we’ll support your development through bespoke training.

We are committed to delivering creative, ambitious services that place children at the heart of everything we do. If you’re passionate about improving outcomes for children with disabilities and their families, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a values-driven team.

Innovative Practice at the Forefront

We’ve introduced several sector-leading approaches, including:

Connected Families Intervention Practitioners (CFIP): Social workers are supported by a multi-agency team, enabling them to focus on direct work with children, while CFIP practitioners provide targeted support to parents and carers. Together, they co-produce family assessments and take part in regular, multi-agency peer supervision.

Connected Practice: This approach allows our social workers to build deeper relationships with families by spending meaningful time with them. It promotes sophisticated, evidence-based interventions that lead to real, lasting change.

We are proud of our clear vision, strong leadership, and the stable, secure environment we provide to both our teams and the families we support. Quality of practice is our top priority.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking skilled and compassionate social workers who can:

• Build trust and overcome resistance with creativity, authority, and empathy
• Undertake complex assessments and analysis, grounded in research and theory
• Promote inclusion and challenge discrimination in practice and within the organisation
• Bring strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Support and influence good practice across the service

How to Apply

We’ve streamlined the application process to make it easier for you. Simply click Apply Now, upload your CV and a short cover letter that outlines:

• Your experience working with children and young people
• How you communicate and build relationships
• How you apply theory or research in practice

Be concise, include examples, and focus on what matters.

Click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification.

Interview Process

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to a face-to-face interview on 25 June 2025 at either St Mary’s House, Eastbourne, or County Hall, Lewes. We’ll ask about:

• Your work with children and families
• Communication skills
• Use of theory and research in practice
• Leadership and influence in social work

Why Join East Sussex?

We offer:

• A dedicated Social Work Education Team committed to your development
• A culture where social workers feel supported, heard, and empowered
• Clear career progression and development pathways
• A wide range of employee benefits – learn more here

Contact Us

 For more details or an informal conversation about the role, contact:
Claire Collerson, Operations Manager
Email: Claire.collerson@eastsussex.gov.uk
Phone: 01323 466050

Additional Information

• This role requires an Enhanced DBS check. Learn more: www.gov.uk/dbs-check
• If you have lived or worked abroad, an overseas police check is required
• UK visa sponsorship may be available – please state your need for sponsorship in your application: Skilled Worker Visa Information

If you require reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process due to a disability, please contact the hiring manager