Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Best Interests Assessor in Eastbourne

Do you want to shape decisions that truly put people first and safeguard people\’s rights? Join us! East Sussex Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding (DoLS) team is looking for a full-time registered professional to complement its team of Best Interest Assessors (BIA).

As a Best Interest Assessor, your day will involve working with people who may be deprived of their liberty under the Mental Capacity Act. You’ll carry out independent, person-centred assessments, meeting with individuals, their families, and care providers to understand needs, wishes, and risks. You’ll balance legal frameworks with human rights principles, making recommendations that can profoundly impact someone’s daily life. On a practical level, this means reviewing case information, visiting care homes or hospitals, conducting structured interviews, liaising with other professionals, and writing clear, legally robust reports. You’ll be expected to weigh up complex and sometimes conflicting viewpoints, ensuring that the individual’s voice remains central.

East Sussex DoLS team undertake proportionate assessments on a case load basis. You will need to demonstrate how you assess in a timely articulate way, summarising a wide range of evidence to clearly and succinctly demonstrate how you have come to a best interest decision on the deprivation of liberty of a person by their care. When Liberty Protection Safeguards comes into place, we will offer you university-based training.

We are a countywide team with hybrid working and an office base at St Marys House in Eastbourne.

You must be a registered Social Worker, Nurse, Psychologist, or Occupational Therapist with two or more years post qualifying experience. A requirement of the role is that you are a Best Interest Assessor. If you are not already a BIA, you must successfully gain BIA approval as a requirement of the post.

We are looking for candidates with the following experience:

• Professional qualification and current registration to practice as a Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Nurse, or Psychologist
• Best Interest Assessor University training
• Assessment and interviewing skills
• Liaison and advocacy with colleagues and other agencies
• Safeguarding skills
• Construct and present written reports within timescales
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work creatively with adults

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.

To apply for this role, please follow the ‘Apply Now’ button above and upload your CV and a Supporting Statement. We will be using your Supporting Statement to shortlist so please be sure to address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on any relevant work/life experience, education, or personal interests.

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification for more information.

For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page and our statement on the use of AI.

Interviews will take place week commencing 02 March 2026 via Microsoft Teams unless you request an in-person interview. If you are unavailable to attend the allocated interview date/time, let us know and we may be able to schedule an alternative date/time for you.

Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

It’s a role where no two days look the same – one day you might be in a care setting talking with staff about restrictions, the next you’ll be meeting a family who want reassurance their relative’s rights are being respected. What links every day is the responsibility to safeguard liberty and dignity. The team is professional, friendly, and supportive. You will receive training, regular supervision, reflective practice sessions, annual legal update, and the opportunity to broaden your practice, by active participation in educating others in best interest work alongside your DoLS assessment work.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For an informal discussion, please contact Carmen Deac via Carmen.Deac@eastsussex.gov.uk.

For a team that supports you, choose East Sussex.