Senior Social Worker - Portsmouth

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Social Worker to deliver high-quality, person-centred adult social care, ensuring robust assessments, effective safeguarding, and positive outcomes for service users.

This role sits within Portsmouth's Adult Care and Support Community Teams, working with adults with complex needs and their carers to assess, plan and deliver personalised support. You will take a strengths-based, evidence-led approach gathering and analysing information from individuals, carers and professionals to develop tailored support plans and identify the most appropriate resources to meet needs.

Managing your own caseload autonomously, you'll ensure practice is proportionate, lawful and well-documented, while contributing to safeguarding activity, multi-disciplinary working, and service development. The post also involves supervising staff, supporting continuous improvement, and maintaining professional development in line with Social Work England standards, with regular supervision and team support available.

Who is the person summary:

The role requires a qualified and registered social worker with relevant post-qualifying training, strong knowledge of adult social care frameworks, and a thorough understanding of key legislation such as the Care Act, Mental Health Act, and Mental Capacity Act. The post holder must demonstrate excellent assessment, supervision, communication, and conflict resolution skills, alongside the ability to manage a caseload efficiently and maintain accurate, evidence-based records suitable for legal use.

A clear commitment to person-centred, strength-based practice and safeguarding is essential, as is familiarity with processes such as Continuing Health Care. The role also demands flexibility, sound judgement, and the ability to work independently under pressure, balancing competing priorities while using IT systems effectively and communicating clearly with service users in spoken English.

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act. We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals.

Please ensure that you read the job profile for full details on the post. We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page. You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work/personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal. You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Adults Board safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles. Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact or call the recruitment team.