At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to support vulnerable adults with complex needs and ensure high-quality service delivery.
- Company: Brighton & Hove Council, committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, ongoing professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team dedicated to continuous learning and improving outcomes for all.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of those facing significant challenges in our community.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification, experience with complex needs, and strong leadership skills.
Location: Brighton Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton, BN1 1JS.
Salary: £48,226 - £51,356. Contractual hours: 37. Basis: Flexi Hours. This role is permanent.
Do you have strong leadership skills and a passion for supporting staff to deliver high‑quality social work practice? Are you confident managing complex cases and making sound decisions in high‑risk situations? Do you thrive in a multi‑agency environment, working collaboratively to improve outcomes for adults with multiple and compound needs? Are you committed to delivering trauma‑informed, inclusive and person‑centred services?
The Multiple and Complex Needs Team (MCNT) provides enhanced Adult Social Care support to adults experiencing overlapping challenges such as homelessness, mental health difficulties, substance use, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system. This role plays a key part in leading practice, supporting staff, and ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, safe and effective services for residents whose needs require coordinated, multi‑agency responses.
What you’ll be doing (tasks)
- Providing day‑to‑day operational management of the service, including allocation of work, oversight of caseloads, and ensuring safe staffing and service delivery.
- Line managing and supervising social workers and other practitioners, supporting their professional development, performance, and wellbeing.
- Leading on complex, high‑risk cases, offering expert advice, decision‑making, and oversight to ensure safe and effective interventions.
- Ensuring the team meets statutory duties under key legislation including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and safeguarding responsibilities.
- Supporting effective safeguarding practice, including oversight of Section 42 enquiries and risk management for individuals experiencing significant harm or self‑neglect.
- Managing delegated budgets responsibly, balancing individual outcomes with financial accountability.
- Monitoring team performance against key performance indicators and using data, audit, and feedback to drive continuous improvement.
- Building and maintaining strong partnerships with housing, health, criminal justice, and voluntary sector organisations to deliver coordinated care.
- Contributing to service development, practice improvement, and a strong learning culture, including mentoring, coaching and supporting newly qualified staff and students.
What you’ll bring (skills & experience)
- A recognised Social Work (or relevant AHP/Nursing) qualification and professional registration.
- Strong working knowledge of legislation including the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding frameworks, and relevant housing legislation.
- Significant experience working with adults with complex needs, including mental health, homelessness, substance use or related challenges.
- Experience of supervising staff, managing performance, and supporting professional development in a high‑pressure environment.
- Proven ability to manage and advise on complex cases, including risk assessment and safeguarding.
- Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams and building effective partnerships.
- Confidence in managing resources, including staff and budgets, to deliver effective services.
- Excellent communication and IT skills, including recording, reporting, and use of data to improve practice.
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice.
Benefits
- Be part of a specialist, innovative service supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
- Opportunities to lead practice and shape service delivery within a developing and evolving team.
- Access to ongoing professional development, including leadership, supervision, and specialist training.
- A supportive environment that values reflective practice, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Opportunities to contribute to service development and wider system change across Brighton & Hove.
Our commitment to inclusion
We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We recognise that people experiencing multiple and complex needs often face significant barriers, particularly those from marginalised or underrepresented groups. Our team embeds inclusive and trauma‑informed practice in all aspects of our work. We actively adapt how we deliver services to meet individual needs, working collaboratively with partners and communities to improve access, reduce inequalities, and achieve better outcomes for all.
Encouraging a diverse workforce
Our city is known and loved for its diversity. It is what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.
Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti‑racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce.
Council Values
- be connected
- be confident
- be innovative and creative
- be diverse and inclusive
- be healthy and psychologically safe
Additional Information
Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term‑time only. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.
Senior Social Work Practitioner in Brighton employer: Brighton & Hove City Council UK
Join a forward-thinking team at Brighton Town Hall, where your leadership skills will directly impact the lives of vulnerable adults in our community. We offer a supportive work culture that prioritises professional development and collaboration, ensuring you have the resources to thrive in your role. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, you'll be part of an innovative service dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing complex challenges.
Contact Details:
Brighton & Hove City Council UK Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Work Practitioner in Brighton
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Brighton & Hove City Council UK.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Brighton & Hove City Council UK!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Brighton & Hove City Council UK, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Brighton & Hove City Council UK or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Social Work Practitioner in Brighton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Brighton & Hove City Council UK:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Brighton & Hove City Council UK! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brighton & Hove City Council UK
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
