Senior Social Worker - Support and Safeguarding

Number of positions: 2

Contract type: Full Time

Working hours: 37 per week

Location: One Angel Square, Northampton

Closing date: 17/06/2026

What will you be doing? You will be a qualified social worker, who has completed your ASYE, registered with Social Work England and have the commitment and passion to be at the forefront of delivering best practice and support to children and families. As a Senior Social Worker, you will be an integral part of a highly skilled team responsible for assessing, planning and implementing interventions to safeguard children and support families when they need it most. You will have the opportunity to lead and support a team of social workers, working collaboratively to ensure the safety and well-being of children across the county. You will have awareness of the main legislative framework within which the role operates and knowledge of the range of services which are available to children and families and of the organisational framework within which they are provided. Ideally you will have gained extensive post-qualification experience of children and families social work within a statutory or voluntary organisation and will have proven ability to relate professionally with children and families, evidenced through previous work as a Social Worker. Experience of supporting those in less experienced roles in a social work environment would be desirable.

Qualifications: You will be a qualified social worker, who has completed your ASYE, registered with Social Work England and have the commitment and passion to be at the forefront of delivering best practice and support to children and families. As a Senior Social Worker, you will be an integral part of a highly skilled team responsible for assessing, planning and implementing interventions to safeguard children and support families when they need it most. You will have the opportunity to lead and support a team of social workers, working collaboratively to ensure the safety and well-being of children across the county. You will have awareness of the main legislative framework within which the role operates and knowledge of the range of services which are available to children and families and of the organisational framework within which they are provided. Ideally you will have gained extensive post-qualification experience of children and families social work within a statutory or voluntary organisation and will have proven ability to relate professionally with children and families, evidenced through previous work as a Social Worker. Experience of supporting those in less experienced roles in a social work environment would be desirable.

Benefits:

• SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)
• Recruitment Welcome Bonus of £6,000
• Relocation costs of up to £8,000
• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme – an independent support programme run by Health Assured, available 24/7, 365 days a year, including telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus benefits
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

Get in touch: We welcome the opportunity to speak to any interested candidates so please feel free to email: Stacey Poe, Service Manager stacey.poe@nctrust.co.uk and they can agree a mutually agreeable time to call you. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check.

About us: At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do – in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils. Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be. We value our colleagues and empower them to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed. At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.

Overview of the role: Our support and safeguarding teams are nurturing and supportive with their own unique identities. They cover a large diverse county with several offices across Northamptonshire including Northampton, Daventry, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough. These teams support children and young people who are subject to a Child Protection Plan, Child in Need plan and, if appropriate, court proceedings. This kind of social work often takes place over several months and involves regular visits with families. Focussed on positive outcomes, they work in challenging yet supportive and collaborative ways. Working alongside other professionals, the team helps put together plans to reduce the risks and areas of unmet needs to help children/young people to remain with their families when it is safe to do so. Our friendly, supportive Safeguarding teams work in a creative and solution focussed way to keep children, young people and families together when it is safe to do so. The team are highly supportive and use a relational practice approach. Colleagues within the teams describe them as their ‘work family’. Managers within the teams are approachable and supportive.

These roles are based in One Angel Square, Northampton.

Inspirational quote: I love working in safeguarding. I am surrounded by supportive colleagues and managers. I enjoy building a relationship with children and young people and supporting them to achieve the best possible outcomes. I started at NCT as an ASYE, then progressed to social worker and now a senior. I am enjoying the progression and learning and development opportunities I have. Desirae, Senior Social Worker Support and Safeguarding