Social Worker jobs UK visa sponsorship

Social Worker jobs UK visa sponsorship 2026 in Edinburgh Children’s Services. Apply for rewarding UK social work careers with visa sponsorship, flexible working, pension, and career growth opportunities. We want Edinburgh’s children to be safe, healthy, nourished, educated, active and respected. Our teams are at the forefront of offering services to support children, young people and their families to cope with challenging situations at different stages of their life. You will be working in a service that promotes rights‑based, person‑centred approaches to make a positive difference.

It’s an exciting time for Edinburgh to join. As part of a service evaluation we are introducing a new structure to ensure innovative social work practice. We are also transitioning to the Mosaic case management system, which will give our social workers a more efficient platform that lowers bureaucracy and boosts time working directly with children and families. We’re also looking into how AI tools can help us get better at what we do.

Available Teams

• Contact and Assessment Team: A city‑wide service which carries out initial evaluations when a request for a social work service is received. The team is primarily concerned with short term assessment and intervention on a voluntary rather than a statutory basis.
• Protection Resource: A city‑wide program that conducts first child protection evaluations for children and young people. The team is committed to the assessment and intervention of imminent risk. Successful applicants will have previous experience of completing assessments of need and risk for children and young people within a social work context.
• Children’s Practice Teams: Social workers in practice teams work together with families and other professionals to undertake assessments, manage risk and deliver targeted interventions for children and young people who live at home and those who are looked after and accommodated, often working with the Child Protection Register and the Children’s Hearing system. Practice teams are located in local communities where they can have most impact.

Working with children and young people in dispute with the law – the team works with children, young people and their families on a voluntary and statutory basis within the Children’s Hearings and justice systems. Please indicate in your application the team(s) you would like to be considered for.

What experience and skills do I require?

• SSSC approved Social Work qualification
• Registering with the SSSC
• Ability to successfully prioritise and work in a fast‑paced setting
• Ongoing commitment to professional development and continual improvement

Support & Development

• Custom Made Induction
• Named tutor
• Regular monitoring by a Team Leader
• Newly Qualified workers will be supported through their SSSC NQSW Supported Year with a reduced caseload, clear standards of practice and specific development opportunities
• All workers will have manageable caseloads, defined practice standards and chances for career growth
• Study for the Child Protection and Welfare postgraduate certificate and receive an extra monthly payment when you complete it
• Opportunities to do the Mental Health Officer Award, and then work as a Mental Health Officer alongside your main function
• Study opportunities for the Practice Educator Award; additional financial payout for students who successfully pass their placement

Benefits of working in Edinburgh

• Flexible and hybrid working
• Generous yearly leave entitlement which increases with years in post
• Public holidays and leave without pay
• Member of Lothian Pension Scheme where the current employer contribution rate for Edinburgh is over 17%
• Family friendly policies and well being support including access to a specialist service providing wellness and counselling help
• Various employee incentives such as Car Lease and Cycle to Work plans, subsidised gym membership, home and electronics advantages
• Paid SSSC membership (if applicable)
• Sponsorship for New Entrant Skilled Worker Visa (if applicable)

This role involves regulated work with children and/or protected persons under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The recommended candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or have a PVG Scheme update check. If you have spent any continuous period of 3 months or more away of the UK in the last 5 years you will need to obtain an Overseas Criminal Record Check. You will have to do this check. The offer of employment and commencement in the role will be subject to the acceptable completion of both these pre‑employment checks.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone feels respected and can be their best. We particularly welcome applications from women for senior roles, and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities or neurodivergent people, care experienced people, carers and LGBT+ people at all levels of the organisation, all of whom are currently under‑represented. All applicants will be treated equitably on the basis of their abilities and experience. Applicants with a disability or experience of care who satisfy the minimal criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview. As part of our interview process, we will also be looking at how you would apply our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.

Our compensation range normally displays the starting wage for the position at the time of hire, and grows annually until the top of the range is reached.