Social Worker - Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub; MASH

About the Role

• Salary: £43,454 - £55,984 per annum (market supplements included)
• Contract Type: Fixed term or Secondment currently until 30.09.2026
• Working Pattern: Full time - 37 hours per week
• Location: Based at County Hall North, Horsham

Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role will be considered for a secondment position. Please can you therefore discuss and agree this with your manager before applying for this position.

Our Social Workers in the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), part of our Integrated Front Door, are the first point of contact for children and families. The work you do here shapes their entire journey with us.

MASH is a fast-paced, collaborative service where every team member has a voice. You ll work closely with a wide range of partner agencies, including police, health, education, probation and housing, to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

We offer small practice teams of Social Workers managed by a Team Manager as well as additional flexible administrative support from Coordinators embedded within the service.

As a Social Worker within the MASH team, you will be working to deliver first class support to vulnerable children and young people. We are seeking emotionally intelligent, organised, resilient individuals who can evidence the value they could add to our team. You will be able to build positive working relationships with children and young people, professionals, partner agencies and carers as well as respectfully challenge where appropriate.

You will also have strong knowledge of the statutory requirements relating to keeping children safe and demonstrate relevant theoretical Social Work concepts and practices to manage complex issues.

Experience and Skills

Some of the key skills and experience required for this role include:

• Analysis and interpretation of complex information and data to enable prioritisation and support in planning next steps.
• Work as part of a team and partnership with key stakeholders to assess needs and implement outcomes.
• Communicate effectively to all audiences, both written and orally and negotiated and persuade where necessary.
• Recognised Social Work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work, Post Graduate Certificate in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent as recognised by the relevant professional body.
• Completed relevant post qualifying training, have evidence of at least one year s experience post qualification and be registered with the relevant professional body.
• Knowledge of theoretical Social Work concepts and practices, with demonstrable examples of dealing with a breadth of complex issues and situations, for example, attachment, impact of developmental trauma and child development, motivational interviewing, relational practice, solution-focussed interventions and systemic working. A good understanding of anti-oppressive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice in social work.
• You will need to be able to travel independently around the county, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport. Pool cars and pool bikes are available.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

We provide regular group supervision and peer learning alongside specialist roles within the team to focus on the most vulnerable children. As a Social Worker, you ll have a minimum of 5 CPD and training days per year with access to excellent learning and development provisions such as Research in Practice and Community Care Inform, Social Work England fees paid and annual leave up to 29 days, as well as the option to buy up to 3 additional days.

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do. For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee, please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

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