Adult Social Workers in Ipswich

• Suffolk County Council - Various locations countywide in Suffolk
• Salary: £37,280 per annum (pro rata for part time hours) rising to £38,220 - £40,777 per annum after successful completion of your ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment) Plus a £500 additional payment and retention payments
• Hours: Full or part time hours available
• Contract: Permanent and temporary contracts available

Suffolk\'s Adult Social Care Services are looking for passionate Adult Social Workers and Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) to join our team.

Whether you\'re an experienced practitioner or about to qualify, if you\'re committed to supporting local communities and building strong networks, we want to hear from you. Suffolk offers a comprehensive training programme, including the ASYE scheme for NQSWs, designed to give you the best start and lay the foundation for a rewarding long-term career.

Your role

You’ll bring the skills and experience to deliver innovative, strengths-based assessments and care planning for individuals, carers, and their support networks. We’re looking for someone who is adaptable, confident, and committed to strengthening social work - ambitious about what people can achieve and eager to explore creative ideas that lead to positive outcomes.

If you’re considering applying, we encourage you to watch our video on Reimagining a Career in Adult Social Work . It offers valuable insight into the impact you can make and the support you’ll receive as part of our team.

Why join us?

This is your chance to develop your career while making a meaningful impact in Suffolk\'s communities. You’ll be supported by a team dedicated to your professional growth and success. We welcome early applications and will guide you through the registration process.

We offer:

• Full-time and part-time hours
• Permanent and temporary roles across Suffolk
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Retention payments at 2, 3 and 5 years (£1,000, £1,500 and £2,000)
• Six protected CPD days
• A strong and diverse training offer
• Supportive, experienced teams
• Clear pathways for development and progression across the council
• An inclusive, creative culture

If successful in joining the organisation, you will:

• have an excellent induction to the role
• receive support from peers and mentors
• be able to access extensive training opportunities available, to support your personal and professional development
• join a cohort of NQSW\'s who are also completing their ASYE training allowing you to provide and receive support from other NQSWs.

Further opportunities with career development

Following successful completion of your ASYE you could progress in the following roles:

• Approved Mental Health Practitioner
• Practice Educator.

The teams

Integrated Neighbourhood and Area Locality

Adult social work in Suffolk supports individuals aged 18 and over who may need help due to: Physical health conditions, Mental health challenges, Age-related needs, Substance misuse, or Caring responsibilities.

We uphold our strategic responsibilities under the Care Act 2014, ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.

Through our Integrated Neighbourhood and Area Locality Teams, we work closely with health professionals to help people live independently, stay safe, and maintain their well‑being within their homes and communities. Our teams carry out holistic assessments, provide advice and guidance, and signpost individuals to local resources. We collaborate with key stakeholders, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises to promote choice, independence, and person‑centred care - placing people at the heart of everything we do.

Mental Health

The ASC Mental Health Service is a county wide service and therefore has bases across Suffolk. We are a creative service, evolving to work in the best way for the people of Suffolk. As a specialist service supporting those with functional mental health conditions, the teams are full of knowledge, skills, experience and a passion to encourage and promote independence and wellbeing. The service works closely with local system partners to provide high standards of social work to the people of Suffolk, who are also receiving a service from NHS Mental Health Services, including carrying out both statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 and those under the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007).

Learning Disabilities and Autism

We’re recruiting Social Workers to join our Learning Disability and Autism Service. In this role, you’ll work with individuals with learning disabilities and autism, providing personalised support that helps them achieve their goals and thrive in their community. Every day is different - whether you’re helping a young person transition from hospital to their first home or creating a tailored reablement plan to connect someone within local community, you’ll have the chance to make a profound difference.

REACT - Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team

REACT provides rapid assessment and support to adults experiencing short‑term crises, helping them stay at home and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. Working across the community and the acute hospital, the team delivers integrated, person‑centred care in a fast‑paced environment. This role includes weekday cover (8am-6pm) and one Saturday per month, with a comprehensive induction, regular supervision, and ongoing CPD opportunities. Applicants must be able to travel from our Ipswich base to homes across Ipswich and East Suffolk.

Ipswich Hospital

The Ipswich Hospital Social Work Team works on‑site using the Discharge to Assess model alongside health partners to support safe and timely discharges. Social workers attend multi‑disciplinary meetings, manage safeguarding enquiries, and advocate for individuals during their hospital stay. The role involves reviewing patients, facilitating discharges, and using creative and digital solutions to assess and support people within urgent timescales. Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach are essential. This post includes one Saturday per month.

Hospital to Home Team (West)

You will work within an acute hospital environment at West Suffolk Hospital, supporting customers with their discharge by completing Care Act and Mental Capacity assessments, promoting digital care technology, and providing advice to customers, families, and health staff to maximise independence and well‑being. The role offers a flexible working pattern across seven days, including the option of compressed hours, with weekend work required approximately once every five weeks and shared among the team. Flexibility includes home working arrangements to support your work‑life balance and career. While most of your time will be spent in the hospital, occasional home visits, care home visits, and training may require travel to other locations, so a full driving licence and the ability to travel are essential.

Signs of Safety

It is an exciting time to join Adult Social Care in Suffolk, with our ambition titled People at the heart of Care, setting out how we will work to support people to live fulfilling and independent lives in Suffolk. Using our Signs of Safety model as a foundation throughout our service- working with people and their networks using a safety, solution building and trauma responsive approach.

This is your chance to become one of the select few Social Workers worldwide that are trained practising professionals in Signs of Safety; this will see you stand out from other Social Workers and enable you to develop and progress in your career.

For more information

For an informal discussion about any of these roles please contact us by emailing ASCrecruitment@suffolk.gov.uk and we will give you a call at your convenience.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Grade 5 Adult Social Worker Job and Person Profile (JPP).

Step 2 - Click Apply Now to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template .

1. Tell us about a time when you worked collaboratively with statutory, private, and voluntary agencies to deliver an effective joint response to health and social care needs. What was your role and what did you achieve?
2. Provide an example of how you have used creative and innovative thought to solve a problem for a service user. What was the situation and what did you do?
3. How do you manage your workload and prioritise tasks in a changing health and social care environment? Please provide a specific example.
4. Please state your preference of team if you have one.

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 18 December 2025.

Interviews: Week commencing 12 January 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid