Visa Note
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust welcomes applications from international candidates requiring sponsorship to work in the UK. This position offers a certificate of sponsorship for eligible skilled workers. However, applicants must verify their visa eligibility requirements directly with the employer, as immigration rules can be complex and subject to change.
Job Details
Company: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Location: Chapel Street Clinic, Chapel Street, Chichester, PO19 1BX
Salary: £31,049 to £37,796 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time
Language: English
Application Deadline: 16 January 2026
Reference Number: 354-CO-21763
About the Role
Housing Specialists will join a newly created Housing Team within Sussex Partnership Trust, which aims to embed housing expertise across adult mental health services. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals by providing specialist housing advice and interventions.
The role involves working with people who use adult mental health services, addressing their various housing needs. Each Housing Specialist will be assigned to a specific Local Authority area and will accept housing referrals for service users living in that area.
The position requires travel across various sites in the Chichester area, including inpatient and community mental health teams, Council Offices, and people’s homes. On occasion, this may involve travel outside the district to meet specific needs.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Housing Specialists will receive referrals for people using adult mental health services who have a variety of housing needs. You will be responsible for delivering specialist housing advice, assistance, and interventions for adults using mental health services in a way that prevents or relieves homelessness, or improves poor housing quality.
Your key responsibilities will include completing full housing assessments, creating clear action plans to address individuals’ housing needs, and coordinating activities required to secure positive outcomes. You will manage and prioritise a caseload of people in housing need across your designated area.
You will contribute to an office hours team duty system in place for referrals across Sussex. As part of this role, you will have a formal working arrangement with Chichester Council and prepare information on behalf of the Local Housing Authority for individuals who may be homeless or threatened with homelessness.
Housing Specialists will act in accordance with mental health and homelessness legislation, including statutory Codes of Guidance and policies relevant to their Local Housing Authority. You will work between local mental health and housing systems to ensure people who use our services and staff receive high-quality and timely specialist housing input.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- Undergraduate degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
- Good knowledge and understanding of relevant areas of housing policy and practice, including the law relating to local housing authority homelessness duties and the allocation of social housing
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of working in a professional housing advice capacity with people who have housing and mental health needs
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- Good understanding of the role and responsibilities in relation to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children
- Experience of partnership working within and across various statutory and non-statutory teams and agencies
Although not essential as training will be provided, it would be advantageous for applicants to have had some experience working with people who experience severe and enduring mental health problems.
About the Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing outstanding care and treatment, and the people they employ are at the heart of making this vision a reality. The Trust recognises that working in mental health can be stressful at times, so they prioritise staff welfare by providing regular supervision, mentoring, and any other support that staff need to ensure their wellbeing.
The Trust encourages flexible working practices and understands that a positive work/life balance brings about huge health-related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care they provide. They are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements such as partial home-working, part-time hours, or flexible start/finish times.
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their background.
Benefits and Support
The Trust offers a comprehensive benefits package including access to the NHS Pension Scheme, generous annual leave entitlement, and opportunities for professional development. Staff wellbeing is a priority, with regular supervision, mentoring, and access to wellbeing support services available.
As an NHS employer, the Trust is committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees and applicants. They are proud to hold several accreditations including Age Positive, Armed Forces Covenant, CQC Good, Disability Confident Employer, and Happy to Talk Flexible Working.
The Trust has a strong commitment to staff development and offers opportunities for continuous professional development. They also have a robust process for handling disclosures and criminal record checks to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all service users and staff.
Certificate of Sponsorship Information
This position is eligible for certificate of sponsorship for international candidates who require skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK have been required to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
For further information on sponsorship requirements, applicants should visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. The Trust is committed to supporting successful international candidates through the sponsorship process.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
All successful candidates will be required to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check as part of the pre-employment process. This is a standard requirement for all roles working with vulnerable adults in the NHS.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website. The application process involves completing an online application form and submitting any required supporting documents. Applications must be received by the closing date of 16 January 2026.
International applicants should ensure they include details of their visa status and requirements in their application. It is advisable to contact the employer directly to discuss sponsorship eligibility before submitting your application.
For questions about the job, contact Tess Williams (Housing Team Coordinator) via email at tess.williams2@nhs.net or by phone at 07766420590.
When applying, international candidates should prepare:
- A detailed CV highlighting relevant experience and qualifications
- A personal statement explaining your suitability for the role
- Proof of academic qualifications
- Details of any previous UK work experience (if applicable)
- Information about your visa requirements and eligibility for sponsorship
Privacy Notice
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is committed to protecting your personal data. For information on how your data will be processed, please refer to the Trust’s privacy notice available at https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/website-privacy-notice.
Equal Opportunities
The Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. All appointments are subject to eligibility to work in the UK.
Further Information
For more information about Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the services they provide, please visit their website at https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/. The Trust is committed to providing outstanding care and treatment, and their staff are at the heart of making this vision a reality.
If you have the passion, belief, drive, and talent to help them achieve their vision, they would like to hear from you. This role offers an excellent opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals while developing your career in housing support within the NHS.