Social Worker, Disabled Children Service

Full Time, Permanent x2

Make a Difference in our Disabled Children Social Work Team

About the service

The Disabled Children Service works with disabled children and young people from birth to eighteen and their families. We take a child centred, strengths-based approach recognising disabled children as individuals with their own voices, rights and aspirations. Our team benefits from consistent, wrap-around support from experienced managers who are invested in your development and wellbeing. We work in partnership with families and professionals to safeguard, promote inclusion and support positive outcomes, ensuring children are supported to thrive within their communities.

Located in Hotwells our office is easily accessible and offers a dedicated workspace and we value the connection and continuity that comes with being office-based. This setup helps foster a strong team culture, where collaboration, shared skills, and mutual support are key to how we work.

About Bristol

Bristol is a diverse city with strong communities and a long-standing commitment to equality and social justice. Our Disabled Children Service reflects the city we serve, working respectfully with families from a wide range of backgrounds and championing the rights and voices of disabled children and young people.

We are seeking two social workers to join our Disabled Children Service. You will hold a caseload of children and young people with a range of disability and support needs, undertaking statutory social work in line with legislation and local procedures. As a dedicated social worker in the Disabled Children Service, you will play a pivotal role in providing essential support and intervention for families in child in need, child protection and court processes.

Your responsibilities would include:

• Completing child and family assessments.
• Working with children in need, children subject to child protection plans and children in care.
• Developing and reviewing care and support plans.
• Working collaboratively with families, schools, health colleagues, and partner agencies.
• Promoting inclusive, anti-oppressive practice and rights-based practice.
• Contributing to a supportive and reflective team culture.
• Ensuring statutory timescales for assessments, visits, and reviews are met.
• Ensuring work with disabled children and families is meaningful, proportionate, and effective.

About you

You will:

• Be a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England.
• Have experience working with children and families (experience in disability is welcomed but not essential).
• Be committed to inclusive and strengths-based practice.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully with children, young people and families.
• Be organised, reflective and able to manage competing priorities.

What We Offer:

• Regular supervision and strong management support.
• A supportive team environment with a focus on reflective practice.
• Ongoing training and professional development.

Practice Frameworks and Approaches

Our work in Bristol is underpinned by a range of recognised, evidence informed approaches:

• Signs of Safety - our framework for assessing and responding to harm
• Systemic Practice - supporting understanding of complexity in children’s and families’ lives
• Relationship Based Practice - strengthening relationships and social connectedness
• Contextual Safeguarding - assessing and responding to harm outside the family context

Please note: this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance.

In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future. We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For more information or to discuss opportunities, contact: Helen Faye, Team Manager - Helen.Faye@bristol.gov.uk

Shortlisting: Thursday 17th September 2026

Interviews: Thursday 24th September 2026

*Interviews will be in person and applicants must be available to attend on these dates.

*At this time we are not offering sponsorship for this position.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black and racially minoritised and Disabled candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.