At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families, ensuring positive change through assessments and interventions.
- Company: Join an Outstanding local authority recognised for exceptional children's services.
- Benefits: Flexible working, generous leave, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Access to excellent career development and relocation assistance for experienced workers.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families across Hampshire.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in statutory settings; senior roles require mentoring skills.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 44000 £ per year.
Join us as a Children's Social Worker or Senior Social Worker and make a genuine difference in the lives of children and families across Hampshire. We're proud to be part of a select group of local authorities recognised by Ofsted as Outstanding for the quality and impact of our children's services.
Across our Children in Care, Family Help and Refugee teams, you'll support children, young people and families through key stages of their journey. In the Children in Care Teams, you'll support care experienced children by meeting statutory duties, helping them move from residential care into foster or post 16 placements and completing a range of assessments while working with partners to safeguard young people at risk of exploitation.
Within our Family Help Teams, you'll deliver strengths based interventions and family plans that keep children safely at home. Through practical, solution focused support, you'll help families build on their strengths, overcome challenges and achieve better long term outcomes.
Joining our Refugee Teams, you'll work with separated children, unaccompanied minors, care leavers and families with No Recourse to Public Funds - from arrival and initial assessments, through navigating the asylum process and moving towards independence, with a focus on family reunification.
What you'll do:
- Build strong, meaningful relationships with children and families to enable positive change.
- Lead on assessments, care planning, and interventions that safeguard and promote wellbeing.
- Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to deliver effective, holistic support.
- Manage complex caseloads with autonomy, creativity, and a strong focus on outcomes.
- Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and reflective practice.
- As a Senior Social Worker, provide mentoring and practice support to colleagues, role model high standards of social work, and contribute to reflective practice and service development.
What we're looking for:
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
- Experience working in a UK based statutory social work setting.
- Senior Social Workers will have significant post qualifying experience (minimum 3 years) and be comfortable mentoring colleagues and role modelling best practice.
- Strong relationship building and communication skills, with the ability to engage families and build trust.
- Confident in assessing risk, analysing information, developing effective plans, and producing clear, high quality reports.
- Sound understanding of safeguarding, relevant legal frameworks, equality, and best value principles.
- Ability to manage complex caseloads and work effectively within multi agency settings.
- A creative, flexible, and forward thinking approach to practice.
Please note: This role is not open to Newly Qualified Social Workers. If you are a recent graduate, please apply through our Graduate Entry Training Scheme (GETS).
Why join us?
- Outstanding support: Regular, reflective supervision and a culture that values your voice.
- Flexible working: Including a 9-day fortnight and hybrid options to support work-life balance.
- Career development: 5 personal development days per year and access to excellent learning opportunities through our DfE 'Partner in Practice' initiative.
- Back-office support: Dedicated business support team to free up your time for frontline work.
- Relocation assistance: Up to £8,500 available for experienced UK-based Social Workers relocating to Hampshire (subject to management approval).
- Wellbeing support: Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
- Competitive benefits package: Generous annual leave, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Ready to take the next step? Learn more: Explore the role, team, and our values in our Candidate Pack on our website. Apply by email: Send your CV to with the subject line 'Social Worker HCC623827'. By submitting your CV, you are giving consent for Hampshire County Council to store your data in accordance with data protection legislation. Alternatively, apply online: Click the 'Apply' button below to complete your application on our website. Important: You must already have the right to work in the UK. We are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Social Worker in Olney employer: Hampshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Hampshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker in Olney
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, attend local events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios specific to social work. Think about your experiences and how they relate to the role you're applying for. We want to see your passion and expertise shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills with a portfolio! Gather examples of your work, such as reports, assessments, and case studies. This will help demonstrate your capabilities and give potential employers a clear picture of what you bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you'll find all the info you need about the role and our values, making it easier to tailor your approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker in Olney
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the role of a Social Worker. Highlight your experience in statutory settings and any relevant qualifications to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about working with children and families. Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles, and don’t forget to mention your understanding of safeguarding and legal frameworks.
Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills: In your application, emphasise your ability to build strong relationships with children and families. We want to see how you’ve engaged with families in the past and the positive outcomes that resulted from your interventions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply online through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hampshire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the key responsibilities of a Children's Social Worker. Familiarise yourself with the statutory duties, assessments, and care planning processes. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to manage complex caseloads and build strong relationships with families. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your achievements.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Research the different teams within the organisation, such as Children in Care, Family Help, and Refugee teams. Be ready to discuss how your skills can contribute to their specific goals and how you can collaborate effectively with multi-agency partners.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about the support available for social workers or how the team approaches continuous improvement. It shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.