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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to support children and families, ensuring their safety and well-being.
- Company: Herefordshire Council is dedicated to improving the lives of children in a beautiful rural setting.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and a ÂŁ10,000 welcome payment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while working in a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: You need a recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
- Other info: Relocation packages available and a strong focus on professional development.
The predicted salary is between 30700 - 34300 ÂŁ per year.
About The Role
Job title: Children\’s Social Worker– Safeguarding & Support
Contract: Permanent
Location: Multiple locations – Ross on Wye, Leominster, Hereford
Hours: 37 hours
Salary: 08HC £36,363 – £40,777 (plus market supplement of £5,000 per year £41,363 – £45,777)
Welcome payment: ÂŁ10,000 (see guidance attached)
Relocation package of up to ÂŁ10,000 available
Closing date:14/09/2025
About the Role
Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and families? We are looking for skilled and committed Social Workers to join our Safeguarding and Support teams.
In this vital role, you will work directly with children, young people, and their families to create meaningful, lasting change. You will build trusting relationships, offer early help and support, and when necessary, take decisive action to ensure children are safe and thriving. Our focus is on working collaboratively with families, empowering them to overcome challenges while always keeping the child’s voice at the centre of everything we do.
We are passionate about the work we do and strive to continue to make improvements, helping families feel part of the journey and providing an inclusive and collaborate service. We want to empower children and their families to make the changes that are needed, however where it is necessary to ensure alternative safe care arrangements, we are committed to ensuring we do so in a professional, skilled and sensitive way’.
Herefordshire is on a journey, and we would like you to be part of our next chapter. This is an exciting opportunity to have a genuine impact on the local authority and help improve and protect the children and young people within it.
Curious about what it’s really like to be a Social Worker with us?
Want to know what it really feels like to work with our passionate and dedicated Social Work teams? This short video gives you a glimpse into the heart of our service and shows why Herefordshire Council could be the perfect place for your next career move.
https://youtu.be/FSjU-FV5uic
What We Offer
- Starting salary of £36,363 – £40,777 (plus market supplement of £5,000 per year £41,363 – £45,777)
- Welcome payment £10,000for experienced social workers joining our children’s teams
- Retention payment scheme
- Relocation packages:support of up to ÂŁ10,000
- Pension Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)
- Professional development:protected time and budget to support social workers develop themselves and their careers.
- Career progression: clear pathways toprogress to senior social worker level
- Generous Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum
- Flexible working:flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home working
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
- Payment of professional membership fees
- Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.
About You
We are looking for Social Workers who are:
- Passionate about safeguarding children and supporting families
- Skilled in assessment, planning, and delivering interventions
- Committed to working collaboratively, inclusively, and creatively
- Resilient, reflective, and confident in making difficult decisions
- Able to work effectively within a supportive team environment
- Registered with Social Work England and hold a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW)
Our Safeguarding & Support Teams
Our Safeguarding and Support service is made up of six teams, which work out of three locality offices: South Locality, North Locality and Central locality. Each Team comprises of a a Team Manager, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers, and a team of Family Support Workers. Locality working gives you the opportunity to stay connected, meet new colleagues, and easily access support — all while benefiting from the flexibility of home working.
We are proud of our restorative approach to social work — a way of working that is firmly embedded in our team culture and management style. Collaboration and reflection are at the heart of how we practice: senior managers are always available for guidance and support, especially when navigating complex cases.
The Council plan sets out how we will make our contribution to achieving a better and more successful Herefordshire, please see the link below to find out more:
Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-28
About Us
Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county located in the heart of the Marches on the border with Wales. We are one of the most rural and sparsely populated counties in England with a wealth of unspoilt countryside, distinctive heritage, and lively and attractive market towns.
Our priority in Herefordshire is to keep children safe and give them a great start in life.It’s the priority for the council, our partners and for all of us who work with Children & Young People.
How do we do this?By having dynamic, dedicated, passionate and professional staff who work in a culture that focuses on what we can achieve with children, what they can achieve themselves, and the relationship we build with families and partners to enable this.We have invested heavily in training and developing staff in our relational practice approach with our improvement partner Leeds City Council, so it\’s an exciting time to join Herefordshire – we believe in investing in you so you can be the best you can be!
Herefordshire has a really strong team ethos. Our teams are passionate about the work they do and the positive difference they and the teams they are in make to people’s lives.This is all underpinned by the focus and support from their managers and the council as a whole.
We will deliver better support to our most vulnerable children and their families, develop stronger relationships with partners across the region, and beyond.
Come to Herefordshire and join the journey.
Herefordshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks.
The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:
- Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme.
- Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, or their families. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant;and
- Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supportingyoung people leaving our care.
We will deliver better support to our most vulnerable children and their families, develop stronger relationships with partners across the region, and beyond. Therefore, we take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more details of this role.
To apply, please submit your CV and complete thesupporting statement within the application form, referring to the job description & person specification,detailing how you meet the specific requirements of the role.
Please note:the council is currently unable to offer overseas visa sponsorship for Social Worker roles in Children & Young People. Overseas prospective candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK should not apply for these roles. We appreciate your interest in Herefordshire Council and would encourage you to consider other opportunities with us that may be open to sponsorship. A full list of current vacancies can be found here: https://spiritofherefordshire.com/children-young-people/jobs/
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Social Worker - Safeguarding & Support employer: Hoople
Contact Detail:
Hoople Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Safeguarding & Support
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific safeguarding policies and practices in Herefordshire. Understanding local protocols will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to the role and the community.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former social workers in the area. They can provide valuable insights into the team culture and expectations, which can be beneficial when discussing your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss real-life scenarios where you've made a difference in children's lives. Highlighting your practical experience will showcase your skills and passion for safeguarding and support.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Herefordshire Council's recent initiatives and improvements in child welfare. Being knowledgeable about their current projects will show your enthusiasm and readiness to contribute to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker - Safeguarding & Support
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and requirements of the Social Worker position. Highlight key skills such as safeguarding, assessment, and collaboration in your application.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to reflect your relevant experience and qualifications. Emphasise your social work qualifications, any specific training related to safeguarding, and examples of your work with children and families.
Craft a Strong Supporting Statement: In your supporting statement, directly address how you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your skills and commitment to safeguarding children.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread your documents for spelling and grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial in social work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hoople
✨Show Your Passion for Child Welfare
Make sure to express your genuine passion for safeguarding children and supporting families during the interview. Share personal experiences or motivations that drive you to work in this field, as it will resonate with the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Collaborative Skills
Highlight your ability to work collaboratively with families and other professionals. Prepare examples of past experiences where you successfully worked as part of a team to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your decision-making skills and resilience. Think through potential challenges you might face in the role and how you would handle them, ensuring you keep the child's voice at the centre of your approach.
✨Research Herefordshire Council's Values
Familiarise yourself with Herefordshire Council's values and their commitment to safeguarding. Be ready to discuss how your own values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their mission of improving the lives of children and families in the community.