Senior Social Worker - DGA13061 in Dumfries

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a passionate and experienced leader to join our Children and Families Social Work Service as a Senior Social Worker. This permanent, full‑time post (36 hours per week) covers the east of the Dumfries and Galloway region. Dumfries and Galloway Children & Families Social Work Service is committed to improving outcomes for children, young people, and families.

We are seeking a Senior Social Worker with the energy, ambition and leadership skills to drive forward high‑quality, strength and relational based practice to the children, young people and families we work with. We are committed to upholding the Promise and adopting a rights based approach and you will play a key role in delivering this, ensuring care‑experienced children and young people have a voice, and that their needs shape our services. You will be a self‑motivated, dynamic individual who is committed to promoting and ensuring that children, young people and families are at the centre of everything we do.

Your Role

• Provide leadership, direction, supervision and nurturing to social workers and senior family support workers.
• Oversee service development, quality assurance and continuous improvement within your team.
• Deliver training and champion best practice across children & families social work teams.
• Promote and uphold the rights based principles, strengthen family networks and support children and young people to be safe, nurtured and flourish.
• Chair complex meetings, manage risk, and provide confident, skilled professional leadership.
• Develop strong, effective working relationships with partners across the service and wider agencies.
• Support a relationship‑based, trauma‑informed approach throughout all areas of practice.

This is an ideal opportunity to gain or further develop first‑line management experience within a supportive, reflective and forward‑thinking environment.

About You

We are looking for leaders who are flexible, proactive and committed to improving outcomes. You should have:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in Children & Families Social Work (post‑qualifying award desirable).
• Strong knowledge of child protection, relevant legislation, and the challenges facing care‑experienced children.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to analyse and interpret information effectively.
• Experience supporting teams through change with confidence, clarity and empathy.
• A Social Work Degree/DipSW/CQSW/CSS and SSSC registration (essential).
• A current driving licence (reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants unable to drive due to disability).

This post is considered as Regulated Work with Vulnerable Children and Protected Adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. From 28 February 2011, preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG scheme update check prior to formal offer of employment being made by Dumfries and Galloway Council. Applicants who have been resident outside the UK within the last 5 years, if offered a position, in addition to a Disclosure Scotland Check, will be required to provide a completed police record check from the police authority in the country or countries in which they were resident.

What We Offer

• Regular reflective 1:1 and group supervision.
• A strong culture of peer support and collaboration.
• Opportunities to innovate and shape service development.
• Access to a comprehensive wellbeing and benefits package, including the Vivup platform, Cycle‑to‑Work scheme, financial wellbeing support, and the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Dumfries & Galloway is an excellent place to live, offering a high quality of life, stunning coastlines and countryside, and excellent transport links. With an exciting benefits package, working for Dumfries and Galloway Council supports you to invest in your own health and wellbeing. Employees have access to our bespoke Vivup platform with over 800 discounts on everyday essentials from top UK retailers, restaurants, utility providers and more. Employees also get access to membership of The Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) exclusive discounts from local businesses, a Cycle-to-Work scheme, financial support from My Money Matters, and guidance from our trained Wellbeing Champions.

Here at Dumfries and Galloway Council we are committed to equality, diversity and equal opportunity with our values, which include treating everyone with dignity, fairness and respect, driving us to tackle inequality. We are looking for people that can bring different perspectives and experiences and especially welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our organisation.

Informal Enquiries

Suzanne Gibson, Team Manager – suzanne.gibson@dumgal.gov.uk
Kath Priest, Locality Manager – kath.priest@dumgal.gov.uk