At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in care and ensure their well-being through positive relationships.
- Company: Join Gloucestershire County Council, a supportive and inclusive employer.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, welcome and retention payments, flexible working, and generous leave.
- Other info: Access to training, career development, and a positive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work career.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England required.
The predicted salary is between 39152 - 47181 £ per year.
We are currently recruiting for a Social Worker to join our dedicated Children in Care Team in Cheltenham.
Reward and Support
- Salary: between 39,152 - 47,181 per annum subject to experience (pro rata for part-time staff)
- 4,000 welcome payment*
- 2,000 retention payment*
- up to 8,000 relocation package**
- flexible and agile working opportunities
- 25.5 days annual leave rising to 30.5 days after 5 years continuous service (pro rata for part-time staff)
- option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
- family friendly policies and benefits to help support you and your family
- supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone
- an in-house Occupational Health service
- employee discount scheme
- links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) and the Young Employees Network
- career development and qualification opportunities
- access to our Social Work Academy
- Cycle to Work scheme (eligibility criteria and t&cs apply)
- Green Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme (eligibility criteria and t&cs apply)
*Please note that all our welcome and retention payments are subject to terms and conditions as well as tax and national insurance deductions.
**Please note that our relocation policy is subject to terms and conditions.
About the team
The Children in Care teams are made up of 5 Social Workers, and an Advanced Practitioner. The teams often have a newly qualified Social Worker, a Senior Social Worker and Experienced Social Workers, so you will always have support around you. Social Workers enjoy meeting up and sharing their expert knowledge about casework and we make the learning times an enjoyable occasion. The Gloucestershire Social Work Academy provide many training sessions to increase knowledge and understanding of the specialist work we do, such as Life Story Work for young people, to help them understand why they came into care. Also, we have team away days to consolidate our learning, and share our expertise throughout the team, as well as weekly team check ins, so that you never feel isolated as a practitioner.
About you
As a Social Worker within our Children in Care teams, you will be instrumental in delivering a first-class service to ensure the best outcomes for the children and young people of Gloucestershire. Through building positive relationships with colleagues within the service and partner agencies you will ensure we are able to provide support and protection for children and young people in need and at risk. As well as your experience as a frontline social worker, there are some things we require of you to be successfully appointed to this post:
- Social Work England registration
- a recognised qualification in Social Work
- to have passed your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) if qualified after 2012
- a full driving licence and willingness to drive
- DBS clearance (Enhanced Adults and Childrens)
How to apply
For an informal chat about this role, please contact us. We reserve the right to close an advertisement earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a suitable number of applications. Interviews are due to take place in person Thursday 9th July 2026.
If you would like to find out more about our Children's Service please take a look here: Children's Social Care Careers | Careers hub.
We welcome applications from newly qualified and social workers in the early years of their career. Depending on your qualification date and previous experience, you will be invited to either join our accredited ASYE programme or to complete an alternative early career development in-house pathway. The appropriate option will be explored and confirmed as part of the interview and offer process.
We may be able to offer sponsorship for this role, in line with Home Office guidance and subject to pre-employment checks. Applicants must already hold a valid right to work in the UK that Gloucestershire County Council can transfer.
If you are an Internal applicant and consider yourself to have a disability* as per the Equality Act (2010), please declare this in an email to us, as this is NOT currently covered in the application due to a technical error. By providing this information, you can choose to be considered for a guaranteed interview under our Disability Confident pledge if you meet all essential shortlisting criteria. It also enables the recruiting manager to arrange any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.
*a disability is defined as: a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term (more than 12 months) adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Under the terms of our Safer Recruitment Policy, if you are invited to interview, we will take up safeguarding references prior to your interview to understand your suitability to work with vulnerable children. These references will then be discussed in your interview. Please give details of at least two referees, one of whom must be your present and/or last employer and the other from a previous employer(s). These will need to cover the last three years of employment/education. In the case of applicants leaving full time education or not having worked since doing so, the Head of School, College or University should be one of the named referees. We do not accept references from friends or family members or workplace colleagues (who are not more senior). To ensure we process your application in a speedy and efficient way, we will contact your referees by DocuSign. Where appropriate, please inform them of your application.
Additional Information
This position is subject to a DBS check. Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire's diverse communities. Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.
It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a customer facing role must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.
Hybrid working arrangements are available for the majority of our roles, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice, with a mix of both remote and office working.
Contact Details:
Gloucestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker/Senior Social Worker - Children in Care, Permanent in Frampton on Severn
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Gloucestershire County Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Gloucestershire County Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Gloucestershire County Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Gloucestershire County Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker/Senior Social Worker - Children in Care, Permanent in Frampton on Severn
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Gloucestershire County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Gloucestershire County Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gloucestershire County Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
