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Job summary

Main area
CAMHS
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Part time
  • Job share
18.75 hours per week
Job ref
354-CS-21951-1
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
To be advised and discussed with candidates
Town
TBA
Salary
£66,582 - £77,368 pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
27/08/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust logo

Social Work Professional Lead for CAMHS

NHS AfC: Band 8b

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.

Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

We are looking for a very experienced Social Worker, with a proven track record of leading at a senior level, to provide expert professional and clinical leadership across the Social Work workforce and multidisciplinary teams for our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). In this post the successful applicant will work collaboratively with their job share colleague,  and the CAMHS Senior Leadership Team, including the Associate Clinical Director and other professional leads. They will be supporting the quality of the service user experience by providing high level training and supervision to develop social work staff and multi professional staff knowledge and skills. They will lead within the service on promoting clinical innovation and delivering continual development of social work practice based upon evidence and relevant research. They will advise and liaise with the Director of Social Work and Safeguarding, regarding any specialist social work issues from within the care group. CAMHS is currently progressing  a large programme of transformation to ensure the most effective and needs-led service provision across all areas of Sussex for children and young people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties. The postholder will lead in collaboration with the senior team, as a new model of care is implemented and continues to be evaluated.

Main duties of the job

  • Provide expert social work advice to the CAMHS senior leadership team and Triumvirate of the Division. 
  • Work closely with other Social Work Leads internally and externally to promote excellent practice and high quality within the Trust. Contribute to the Trusts Social Work strategy and participate with the Trusts overall clinical strategy 
  • Deputise for colleagues within the Senior Leadership Team as required. 
  • To facilitate relevant work streams to consider provision of social work, staff development, and lead on social work recruitment initiatives. 
  • To oversee staff compliance with Social Work professional standards and regulation requirements as set out by relevant professional bodies. 
  • To oversee & provide professional supervision, overseeing professional development of social workers and social work students and support the in- house 'assisted and supported year in employment' (ASYE) for newly qualified social workers (NQSW's) 

Working for our organisation

We provide mental health and learning disability care for children, young people, and adults across Sussex. SPFT is rated 'good' overall and 'outstanding' for caring by CQC.

About Sussex:

  • Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns there's always new experiences to be enjoyed
  • Embrace the city life with great access to visit Brighton and London
  • With easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow and excellent railway links across the UK there is plenty of opportunity for adventure 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see job description and person specification attached. 

  • Recognised degree level professional qualification in Social Work 
  • Registered with the appropriate professional body - Social Work England 
  • Evidence of continued professional development. 
  • Educated to master's degree level or equivalent. 

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.

 SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people, and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.

If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Qualified Social Worker with current registration appropriate to the job role
  • Evidence of master's level education in related area or equivalent
  • Evidence of significant relevant professional development

Knowledge/Experience

Essential criteria
  • Thorough understanding of relevant legislation
  • Extensive clinical experience and practice in the care group in a range of settings.
  • Expert knowledge of Social Work practice and multidisciplinary team working
  • Evidence of inter-professional collaboration
  • Advanced decision-making skills that reflect a patient/carer focus
  • Evidence of publication experience
  • Evidence of implementing innovative practice
  • Evidence of conducting audit/research
  • Evidence of ability to drive change forwards through
  • excellent leadership and the ability to create strategic vision
  • Able to demonstrate lateral thinking and generate novel solutions to meet the needs of this client group
  • Promotion of best practice through clinical governance mechanisms
  • Demonstrate evidence of successful change management within complex teams

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr Anna Moriarty
Job title
Associate Clinical Director
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Bryan Lynch - Director of Social Work

[email protected]  

07738 756958

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