Senior Social Worker - Response Team in Yate

Our social workers make a real difference. Every day, they work with families to help children and young people who have had a difficult start in life to achieve their ambitions. You will be listening to young people and putting them at the heart of all that we do. Working in partnership with families, you will equip them with the skills they need to ensure young people live in happy, healthy and safe homes.

We have a strong culture of giving staff the time, freedom and support to explore new and better ways of doing things, so we’re looking for individuals keen to use their creativity to deliver high quality, child‑centred practices, which ensure the best outcomes for children and families. The Response team sits within the Front Door of our Integrated Children’s Service. You will be assessing and managing risk where there is possible, or actual, significant harm to children to ensure that children are kept safe and protected from abuse. Regularly, you will undertake statutory assessments of cases meeting the threshold for social care intervention, this includes child protection investigations.

We require you to be a qualified social worker with relevant registration to practice (SWE registration) and a good understanding of asset and strengths‑based approaches to social work. In addition, you will have already successfully completed your ASYE (where qualifying since 2012). Ideally, you will be able to evidence significant skills, knowledge and experience to be able to assess and manage risk for the most vulnerable children in the community. You must be able to demonstrate a detailed understanding of successful strategies to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. Given the elements of the role, you will be a problem solver, confident about making important decisions, underpinned by a genuine passion to work collaboratively with children, young people and families. You must demonstrate that you have experience of supervision or mentoring of social workers or support staff and substantial first‑hand experience in a relevant children’s social care team. You will be able to demonstrate wider strategic critical thinking and the ability to manage and advise on risk.

This role sits within an area currently undergoing a period of change due to the government‑led social care reform. As the sector evolves, some elements of the role may naturally develop too - offering opportunities to grow, adapt and be part of meaningful change. We’ll keep you fully informed throughout and make sure you feel supported, valued and confident as the updates arise. It’s an exciting time to join us and help shape the future for our children and families.

This role is currently based in the Badminton Road, Yate office. Although this post is advertised as a full‑time position, we encourage and welcome applications from experienced social workers who may be seeking part‑time, job share or flexible working arrangements. Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained. You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle insured for business use or have an alternative suitable means of travel.

As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. We invest in the careers of our people, and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps our people make the greatest long‑term difference in their work.

What’s special here is the strength of the team ethos. We are a relatively small local authority, so managers know staff well. They can plan their services to ensure teams have manageable caseloads and have effective supervision so feel supported to make decisions which are right for the children and young people they work with. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.

These posts attract a gross lump sum £3,000 ‘recruitment payment’ pro rata offered to enable Social Workers who have already successfully completed their ASYE to join our permanent workforce. This is payable upon successful completion of your probationary period (after approximately 3‑6 months) and is subject to eligibility criteria. These posts are currently eligible for a market factor £3,000 ‘retention payment’ pro rata, payable in November annually to those with two years’ service with the council in Children’s Social Care in an eligible post, inclusive of any ASYE period.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We’re building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained. We’ve achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference. We’re making a difference, be part of it!