Community Prevention Officer

Posting date:	12 February 2026
Salary:	£29,540 to £32,061 per year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	26 February 2026
Location:	Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9SL
Company:	West Sussex County Council
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	CPP01298_1770901733

Summary

Here at West Sussex County Council, we are working to transform the way in which we provide information, advice and signposting to prevent, reduce or delay the need for higher intensity services. We are embracing a strengths - based approach and working towards a community-led support model that builds on the assets and strengths of both individuals and their local communities, enabling people to live safe, well and independent in their own homes and their own communities.

Together, we'll focus on prevention, enablement, reablement and safety, to promote wellbeing and independence. We'll ensure that residents, families and communities have the right support in place, and at the right time. We provide a working environment that values professional supervision and support. This provides our workforce with what they need to deliver the best possible outcomes for our residents.

We work to ensure that innovation and evidence-based practice underpins what we do and that we maintain an environment within which our Prevention Officers can develop and progress in their careers. If you have the talent and ambition to achieve the best for the people we serve, then we will support you to progress and develop throughout your Social Care professional career.

About the Role

Salary: £29,540 to £32,061

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time (37 hours per week) Monday to Friday

Location: Tradewinds, Bognor Regis

Please note:

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.

The Opportunity

As an Officer in the Community Prevention Team, you will be working as part of a multi-disciplinary team including Nurse Advisors from Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust and Community Support Workers from AGE UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove.

People access the Community Prevention team by being referred in by:
* The person themselves
* Family or friends
* A professional from a statutory or voluntary agency
* Adult Social Care

At first point of contact with the Prevention Team, and as part of a strengths- based approach, information, advice and guidance is offered relating to equipment, technology enabled care, adaptations and options to meet low level care and support needs. If the person's outcome/s cannot be met at this first contact, they are allocated to the most relevant part of the partnership where a
more focussed approach is offered either via the phone or a face-to-face visit.

About You

You will have good verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to organise and present information clearly, concisely, and accurately in ways that promote understanding, both verbally and in writing. You will need to be resilient, adaptable, organised and able to work in a fast-paced environment.

You'll also need to work proportionately and record accurately. The role requires sometimes lengthy periods of concentration. You'll need to be committed to continuing professional development, ensuring that your knowledge, skill, and practice is up to date.

What we are looking for

(These will be used as the shortlisting criteria please refer to these skills in your application and how your skills and experience are a match for this role.)

Key Skills:
1. Ability to analyse and interpret information received over the telephone and in face-to-face meetings to complete a strengths-based conversation with customers and their families, understanding the outcomes they wish to achieve, setting actions and objectives, and reviewing progress.
2. Ability to engage in partnership with customers, their families, and the wider community, to effect positive change.
3. Ability to work in a strengths-based way to enable people to develop their own resilience.
4. Able to manage self; is self-aware and understands the impact of work on self and others, able to respond constructively to situations, balancing competing demands and recognising when to refer upwards and seeking help appropriately. Ability to reflect on own practice and to learn from experience. To take responsibility for own performance and to be proactive in relation to own work and professional development.
5. Ability to work in a multi-agency environment, responding sensitively and flexibly to diverse groups and customers whilst maintaining confidentiality to deliver a service to others.
6. Sound and accurate IT skills, with the ability to maintain clear, accurate records of all work undertaken and produce records, reports, and correspondence for a variety of audiences.

Qualifications and/or experience:
* GCSE English and Maths (C grade or above), or equivalent qualification or
experience operating at this level of literacy and numeracy.
* NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Care (or equivalent)- Desirable
* Experience of providing support/working with people in their own homes and or local community.
* Experience of forming effective working relationships within a multi-agency setting.
* An awareness of the policies, practices and procedures relevant to social care.
* Experience of working with people using a strength-based approach finding innovative and creative solutions to meet outcomes.
* Experience of applying relevant legislation, policies and procedures to individual pieces of work.

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

Rewards and Benefits

From flexible working (where possible) to access to our Employee Assistance Programme, we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance.

A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from generous, an excellent local government pension scheme as well as a range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers.

For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

How to Apply

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.

Click apply below, upload your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should:

• Outline your motivations for applying.
• Explain the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills in the attached job description).

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to right to work within the UK, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.