Social Worker - Children\'s Specialist Safeguarding Team (eligible for £6,000 Welcome Payment) in Bracknell

Bracknell Forest's Children's Social Care team are proud to have achieved an Outstanding in all areas grading in December 2025. Not only did we maintain our Outstanding judgement, but inspectors also recognised that since the last inspection in 2022, Bracknell Forest has sustained and strengthened exceptional services for children and families. Ofsted described practitioners as effusive about working in Bracknell who value our strong child‑focused ethos, relational practice model, manageable workloads and high‑quality training and supervision. Staff shared with inspectors that they appreciate leaders’ visibility, approachability and unwavering commitment to children, all factors that underpin their decision to continue their careers in Bracknell Forest. Leaders have established a highly effective Social Work Academy that provides tailored support to practitioners at every stage of their career. This commitment to development and learning has contributed to Bracknell Forest’s secure reputation as an ‘employer of choice’ for social workers.

About you

You will hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. You will have successfully completed your ASYE and have experience of frontline social work which includes Child in Need and child protection. You will be passionate about relational social work and committed to understanding the lived experiences of children, being a fierce advocate for children and providing the support required to better childhood experiences. To thrive in this role, you will bring an understanding of the relevant legislation, guidance, policies and thresholds that underpin safeguarding. You will have experience of effective multi‑agency working, building partnerships and co‑producing needs‑led safety plans for children and young people. You will be able to demonstrate your analytical skills, ability to assess information, identify actions and record timely accurate information. Experience of working with children with disabilities and complex needs is desirable, but not essential; we will support you to develop this specialist knowledge.

If you would like an informal chat or a tour of the office before submitting your application, please contact helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk and we will be happy to arrange a suitable time.

About the team and children’s social care

In December 2025, Ofsted concluded that since the last inspection, leaders, managers and practitioners have not only sustained outstanding services but have raised the bar even higher. The Children’s Specialist Safeguarding Team (CSST) is a highly skilled team working with children who have disabilities and/or complex health needs. We provide a wide range of services for children with additional needs and those who may be more vulnerable. This includes delivering the council’s statutory responsibilities for disabled children in need within the community, such as care packages, practical support and access to short breaks. The team brings together an eclectic mix of expertise across different service areas, covering a broad spectrum of work with children with disabilities, occupational therapy, and short breaks (including Larchwood, our dedicated short break respite unit). Inspectors recognised that social workers are fierce advocates for their children and understand their disabilities and complex needs. They are tenacious in building relationships and communicate effectively, using a range of techniques and tools to elicit children’s wishes and feelings. Social workers in CSST focus on disabled children’s lived experiences and take time to understand their specific needs; as a result, they are able to identify neglect early and use practical toolkits to support parents to make positive changes. When risks escalated, decisive action was taken, meaning you are well supported in your role to keep children safe. Children also benefit from excellent holistic support that meets their identified occupational therapy and speech and language needs, helping to ensure their overall wellbeing and developmental progress. We are a small, welcoming and friendly local authority where you will have the opportunity to build strong, positive and supportive working relationships with colleagues and peers. You will be a valued member of the team, where you will feel connected, appreciated, heard, accepted, included and supported.

Key responsibilities

• To manage a caseload and deliver assessment, care planning, interventions, and family support consistent with senior practitioner expertise.
• To promote listening to children at every opportunity, ensuring their views are heard, recorded and acted upon in an appropriate and timely manner and to ensure life journey work is completed with children and young people in accordance with their age and understanding.
• To assess and identify the needs of children and families referred and negotiate delivery of services by determining how these needs can be best met in accordance with statutory responsibilities and council policies using best value principles.
• To work in partnership with voluntary and statutory agencies, within the context of children’s and families’ care plans, to ensure the delivery of appropriate and effective services.
• To develop and maintain accurate case records and comply with the department's policies, procedures and guidelines including data protection and GDPR.
• To participate in regular reflective supervision and be able to set clear goals and intervention strategies.