At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Emergency Duty Team to support children and families in crisis.
- Company: Gloucestershire County Council, committed to improving outcomes for children.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on systemic practice and supportive supervision.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in social work, full driving licence, and DBS clearance required.
The predicted salary is between 39152 - 47181 £ per year.
Job Location: Gloucester
This is a Gloucestershire County Council job.
Job Location: Shire Hall, Block 5, Ground Floor
Salary: £39,152 - £47,181 per annum
Hours per Week: 37.00
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 21/06/2026
This post is open to job share.
We are currently recruiting for an experienced Senior Social Worker to join our dedicated Emergency Duty Team (EDT).
Reward and support
- Between £39,152 - £47,181 per annum subject to experience (pro rata for part-time staff)
- £2,000 retention payment*
- £4,000 welcome payment*
- 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 retention payments are subject to terms and conditions as well as tax and national insurance deductions.
Right child, right support, right time, every time
In our recent inspection in June 2025, our Children’s Services have been officially judged as ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ elements. Ofsted also said ‘Leaders have set out a clear vision for delivering success for children, by modelling values and creating a culture where the workforce, children and families feel valued and heard; risk is managed confidently with bottom lines clearly set out.’ This marks an important step in our journey to improve outcomes for our children and young people, and we remain focused on our mission: to continue building on this success and ensure that every child and young person in our county has the opportunity to thrive.
Gloucestershire offers a range of opportunities to develop your career, supported by a phenomenal Social Work Academy offer, a developing systemic practice methodology, an ambitious leadership team and an award-winning workforce. We are a local authority adopting, and training all colleagues in, systemic social work practice. If you would like to be part of an authority that takes a relational approach to working with families and focuses on what needs to change in the system around a child and family to enable children to thrive, then consider a role with GCC.
About the team
The Emergency Duty Team is a small bespoke service that responds to emergencies out of hours. Your role in EDT will involve working within a small and supportive team of Senior Social Workers where you will be prioritising effectively and making sound judgements in a variety of challenging situations.
About the role
The Emergency Duty Team works closely with other agencies that also work out of hours both in the voluntary and statutory sectors. This position offers the opportunity to broaden your skillset and experience further. You will work to a rolling rota which includes weekend and night work. We have two social workers on shift every weekday evening, one working 16:30 to 00:30, the other working 17:00 to 09:00. Weekends we have 2 social workers during the day, 1 from 09:00 to 21:00 and the other from 11:00 to 23:00. On a Saturday and Sunday, this is supported by a night shift who work 17:00 to 09:00. The rota is over 7 weeks. You will also have two weeks off in every seven weeks (as part of your holiday entitlement). This role requires unsocial hours working including night working and weekend working. Approval is presently being sought for payment for unsocial hours and this will be discussed with the successful candidate in more detail.
About you
As well as your experience, there are some things we require of you to be successfully appointed to this post:
- A full driving licence and willingness to drive
- DBS clearance (Enhanced Adults and Children’s)
- To have completed your ASYE year (if you qualified after 2012)
How to apply
For an informal chat about this role, please contact Claire Connolly at Claire.Connolly@gloucestershire.gov.uk.
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 in the Shire Hall. Interview date TBC.
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.
Senior Social Worker (EDT) in Gloucester employer: Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and positive work environment for Senior Social Workers in the Emergency Duty Team. With competitive salaries, generous leave entitlements, and access to a comprehensive Social Work Academy, employees are encouraged to grow their careers while making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in the community. The council's commitment to flexible working and family-friendly policies further enhances the appeal of this role, making it an ideal choice for those seeking rewarding employment in a progressive local authority.
Contact Details:
Gloucestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Worker (EDT) in Gloucester
✨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 Senior Social Worker (EDT) in Gloucester
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.
