Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
West Sussex Social Work Professional Lead
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Social Worker – Specialist Clinical Lead (West Sussex Division)
About The Role
We’re seeking highly skilled and compassionate individuals who embody our values of compassion, accountability, and optimism to join the West Sussex Division of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This role allows you to provide expert professional and clinical leadership in mental health and learning disability services, shaping the future of social work practice and supporting teams to deliver high-quality care.
You will work closely with the Divisional Senior Leadership Team (including the Clinical Director, Director of Nursing and Quality, and Managing Director) while collaborating with other lead professionals and partners to:
- Drive clinical excellence and innovation
- Supervise and mentor social workers and multidisciplinary teams
- Develop targeted strategy for social work practice aligned with national standards
- Provide guidance on specialist social work matters and regulatory compliance
This is an opportunity to make a measurable difference in mental health and learning disability care while contributing to a high-performing NHS Trust recognised with an outstanding rating for 'caring' by the C caring Commission.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Collaboration
- Provide expert social work advice to the Triumvirate (Clinical Director, Director of Nursing and Quality, Managing Director)
- Partner with Social Work Leads internally and externally to promote practice excellence
- Contribute to the Trust’s Social Work Strategy and its clinical vision
- Deputise for colleagues within the Senior Leadership Group as required
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Staff Development & Compliance
- Oversee social work staff and students, ensuring adherence to professional standards
- Lead professional supervision, mentoring and continued professional development
- Implement enhancement of the ‘assisted and supported year in employment’ (ASYE) for newly qualified social workers (NQSWs)
Innovation & Quality Improvement
- Drive clinical innovation and embed evidence-based practice
- Work with the Director of Social Work on specialist issues
- Oversee targeted work streams to strategise for service provision, training and recruitment
About The Trust
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people, and adults across Sussex.
- Overall CQC rating: Good
- Highest award in caring: Outstanding
The Trust is committed to:</br> ✅ Excellent patient and carer centred care</br> ✅ Encouraging innovation and research-based practice ✅ Promoting an inclusive and supportive culture
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Working At Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Flexible and supportive work environment
- Opportunities for flexible hours, hybrid work, or flexible start/finish times—we’ll customise your arrangements to ensure work-life balance.
- Purposeful location
- Reside along the Sussex coast, self-sufficient countryside, and access to vibrant towns like Brighton or London
- Efficient travel network linking the UK via railway and airports (Gatwick, Heathrow)
Next Steps
For further enquiries, contact: Abbi Childs (West Sussex Divisional Clinical Director) 📧 Abigail.Childs@nhs.net 📞 07984 974 222
Director of Social Work & Safeguarding - Bryan Lynch 📧 Bryan.Lynch1@nhs.net 📞 07738 756 958
"Your authentic voice matters. If you use AI for application support, we welcome it—as long as your submitted content reflects your personal experience, values, and professional strengths. We’re here to celebrate your career journey and what you bring to the team."
— Social Work leadership opportunity within NHS mental health, Sussex, England. Don’t let exceptional work life you wish you could have—with SPFT, we shape it together.
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