At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families, ensuring positive outcomes through relationship-building and systemic practice.
- Company: Gloucestershire County Council, dedicated to improving children's services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a team with manageable caseloads and strong values of accountability and respect.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification, registration, and experience in frontline social work.
This is a Gloucestershire County Council job located in Gloucestershire.
We are currently recruiting for Social Workers and Senior Social Workers in all our locality teams. Gloucestershire covers six localities: Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean, Stroud, Cotswolds.
For all your hard work, you will receive the following:
- Salary between £39,152 - £40,777 per annum for a Social Worker or between £41,771 - £47,181 per annum for a Senior Social Worker subject to experience
- Annual retention payment of £2,000
- £4,000 welcome 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
- 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
- Cycle to Work 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
- Paid SWE registration renewal
Working together to support families and communities to give every child the best chance of a happy and rewarding life, especially those who need more help. We have ambitious improvement and transformation plans to create the optimum conditions within which our staff can make a real difference and improve outcomes for children.
We aim for the same Social Worker to support children and their families from the front door until permanence is achieved either through positive change and the child remaining with their parent/s or legal permanence being secured either within the family or outside of the family. We are a local authority adopting and training all colleagues in systemic social work practice.
If you would like to join 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. Our team structures are designed to ensure there is the right level of support available to staff and that caseloads are kept at a manageable level with a Team Manager, Advanced Practitioner, 4 Social Workers and an NQSW making up each team's full complement of staff.
We need resilient, driven individuals who will play their part in making our vision for Children's Services a success. You will be joining an authority with a strong set of values that underpin the work we do: Accountability, Empowerment, Excellence, Integrity and Respect.
As a Social Worker, 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 you qualified after 2012)
- A full driving licence and willingness to drive
- DBS clearance (Enhanced Adults and Children's)
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.
Please note, all our welcome payments and retention payments are non-contractual, pro rata for part-time staff and subject to National Insurance and tax deductions. We reserve the right to close an advertisement earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a suitable amount of applications or fill the vacancy/vacancies.
The council will consider sponsorship for this role, in line with Home Office regulations and subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks. 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, 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.
Senior Social Worker / Social Worker in Stroud employer: Gloucestershire County Council
Gloucestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the community. With flexible hybrid working options and opportunities for professional growth, staff are encouraged to develop their skills in a collaborative environment dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people in care.
Contact Details:
Gloucestershire County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Worker / Social Worker in Stroud
✨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 / Social Worker in Stroud
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.
