About us

What it's like to work for us - pay, benefits, career progression and more.

Why work for us?

Make a difference every day

At West Sussex County Council, every role helps improve the lives of more than 850,000 residents. From registering a baby's birth to supporting people in later life, we're here for people at every stage of life's journey.

Together, we're building a future where communities are strong, independent and thriving. Whether you work in education, social care, libraries, highways or one of our many support services, your work helps deliver better outcomes for residents across the county.

Whatever your experience or background, you'll play a valued role in something bigger. Working alongside colleagues, partners and local communities, you'll help shape services, drive positive change and make a lasting difference in West Sussex.

A place where you belong

At West Sussex County Council, we're more than a workplace. We're a community of people who care. We work together with respect, support and a shared commitment to making a difference, creating an environment where people feel valued and can thrive.

We welcome the knowledge, experience and perspectives that each person brings. By embracing different backgrounds, ideas and experiences, we create a more inclusive workplace and deliver better outcomes for the communities we serve.

Whether you're starting your career, developing new skills or bringing years of experience, you'll find a place where you can be yourself, feel supported and make a meaningful contribution.

Grow, develop and reach your potential

At West Sussex County Council, we invest in your development so you can grow your skills, build your career and achieve your goals. We provide the support, learning opportunities and flexibility you need to succeed both professionally and personally.

Whether you're developing new skills, working towards a professional qualification or exploring your next career move, you'll find opportunities to learn, progress and reach your potential with us.

Our values guide everything we do

Our employee-led values shape how we work every day. They guide how we support residents, work with partners and collaborate with colleagues to deliver the best possible outcomes for our communities.

our values are:

  • customer-centred: we put people at the heart of everything we do
  • listen and act: we value different perspectives and turn feedback into action
  • honest and realistic: we are open, transparent and focused on what matters most
  • trust and support: we work together, empowering one another to achieve great things
  • genuinely valued: we recognise contributions, celebrate achievements and appreciate every member of our team

These aren't just words on a page - they're the foundation of our culture and the way we bring out the best in each other.

Be recognised for the difference you make

At West Sussex County Council, your work has a real impact on the lives of residents and communities across the county. We value the contribution every colleague makes and believe great work deserves recognition.

Whether you're supporting residents directly or helping services run smoothly behind the scenes, your contribution matters. Together, we create stronger communities, improve outcomes for residents and build a workplace where people feel valued, supported and able to achieve their potential.

Working for WSCC means being a part of something that matters.

Find your place at West Sussex County Council

Explore our service areas

At West Sussex County Council, we help residents at every stage of life. We provide a wide range of services, including education, social care, libraries, transport, highways and trading standards.

Every role in the council contributes to improving residents' lives and making West Sussex a great place to live and work. From supporting children and vulnerable adults to maintaining essential services and shaping local communities, our work makes a real difference every day.

Whatever your skills, experience or career goals, you can build a rewarding career with us and make a positive impact.

Explore our service areas below to learn more about the work they do and the career opportunities available.

  • Our Adults’ Social Care teams support people to live fulfilling lives, maintain their independence and access the right help at the right time.

    Working collaboratively with local communities and partner organisations, you'll empower people to build on their strengths, stay connected, and receive personalised support that helps them live safely and independently for longer.

    Whether in a residential home, day centre, hospital, or from the comfort of their own home, these are just some of the roles in which you could make a real difference to their lives every day:

    • social worker
    • occupational therapist
    • assistant care manager
    • support worker or night support worker
    • day opportunity coordinator
    • care and support broker
    • commissioning and contract officer
    • public health practitioner
    • cook

  • Our Children, Young People and Learning teams work together to give every child the best possible start in life.

    Through early help, education, safeguarding, and family support, you'll help children and young people stay safe, fulfil their potential, and achieve their goals.

    Working closely with families, schools, and local partners, you'll play a vital role in creating brighter futures and making a positive difference every day. If you want to work with families to identify, intervene and plan support here are some example roles:

    • social worker
    • child and family worker
    • residential childcare worker
    • team manager
    • family support keyworker
    • hub support assistant
    • educational psychologist
    • teaching assistant
    • best start inclusion practitioner
    • catering assistant

     

  • Our Place Services teams help create safe, sustainable, and thriving communities across West Sussex. We deliver a wide range of services that shape the places where people live, work and visit.

    Whether helping to keep roads, pavements, and public rights of way safe, improving transport choices, protecting the environment, or supporting economic growth, this service plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for local people.

    We are committed to continuous improvement and providing the best possible service through the way we work, the partnerships we build and the resources we invest in. These are just some of the roles where you could join us:

    • facilities officer
    • highways steward
    • project manager
    • school crossing patrol
    • car and minibus driver

  • Our Community Services teams work closely with residents, communities, and partner organisations, to connect people with information, support and opportunities that enrich their lives and strengthen local communities across West Sussex.

    Whether supporting customers, preserving local heritage, promoting lifelong learning, or delivering vital registration services, the below are some of the roles that play an important part in enhancing the everyday lives of people across the county:

    • library assistant
    • customer service officer
    • archivist
    • registration officer
    • community officer

  • Using expertise in finance, procurement, technology, business improvement, analytics, audit and contract management, our Finance and Support services enable the council to operate effectively, efficiently and sustainably and help ensure resources are used wisely, services provide value for money and the council can continue to meet the needs of residents now and in the future.

    Through collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, you can help shape services that deliver lasting benefits in one of our many roles, including the below:

    • finance officer
    • financial analyst
    • procurement officer
    • contract manager
    • data analyst
    • it support analyst

  • Our Human Resources and Organisational Development teams help make West Sussex County Council a great place to work. Working across the council, they support the people, culture and leadership that enable us to deliver high-quality services to our communities.

    From attracting and developing talented people to promoting health, wellbeing, inclusion and employee engagement, these teams play a vital role in helping our workforce thrive.

    Roles in these teams contribute to a positive and sustainable working environment that helps the council achieve its ambitions for residents across West Sussex, here are just a few examples of them:

    • hr business partner
    • recruitment specialist
    • learning and development officer
    • apprenticeships assistant
    • equality, diversity, and inclusion officer
    • hr policy consultant
    • health and safety officer
    • reward consultant
    • graphic designer

  • Our Law, Assurance and Insights teams help West Sussex County Council deliver trusted, accountable, and evidence-based services for residents across the county.

    Providing expert advice, oversight, and intelligence, they support effective decision-making, strong governance, and continuous improvement across the organisation.

    Their work helps ensure the council meets its legal, regulatory, and ethical responsibilities while delivering high-quality services that make a positive difference to local communities. Here are some of the roles:

    • solicitor
    • legal assistant
    • governance officer
    • data analyst
    • performance and insight analyst
    • data and information officer
    • policy officer