At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families in need, guiding them through complex situations with compassion and expertise.
- Company: Swansea Council, dedicated to improving lives through innovative social work practices.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and excellent pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of families while developing your skills and career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Workers with experience in family support and court processes are encouraged to apply.
- Other info: Low caseloads and opportunities for progression without competitive interviews.
The predicted salary is between 35700 - 42600 £ per year.
£40,777 – £48,226 per year. In Swansea Council, our Supported Care Planning (SCP) team is going through an exciting period of development. Recognising that at their most vulnerable times, families want and need experienced, skilled and excellent practitioners to support and guide them, we support our teams to continually develop their skills and reflect on their practice to enable them to be the workers that families really need. We have been able to reduce caseloads and offer exciting development opportunities through our internal progression pathway, supporting our social workers to be at their best, and to progress in their careers in a way that works for them.
Post title: Social Worker – Senior Social Worker
Post number: SS.73571 SS.73572
Salary: £40,777 – £48,226 per year dependant on experience
Directorate/department: Social Services
Further information
About us
Our focus in SCP is working compassionately with families with complex needs, including child protection concerns, and those being assessed within PLO and in the court arena. We remain committed to using the Signs of Safety model of practice, embedded over the past 13 years, and have developed our family networking approach to compliment this.
An innovative service, we are proud that SCP, along with our colleagues from Jigso, has recently been awarded a Social Care Wales \’Building Bright Futures for Children and Families\’ accolade for our collaborative work with families during pregnancy, birth and beyond.
We work collaboratively with our fantastic support services, to provide excellent packages of support for families, and have extensive support services to draw on. In addition to Jigso, these include our own Therapy team, FAST service (providing intensive parenting and adolescent support), and parent and child support services (providing in home PAC support as an alternative to PAC foster placements) to name but a few.
Progression
It is a priority in Swansea that our Social Workers share our values and principals of being committed to working tirelessly to support children to live safe and fulfilling lives in the care of their family, and in SCP we recognise that our area of practice is challenging and requires great skill and expertise. As well as recruiting externally into our social worker and senior social worker posts, our new progression pathway is a development opportunity for Social Workers working in this area of the service who demonstrate sound social work skills and values to progress from Social Worker, to Senior and then to our new Specialist Social Worker (PLO and Court) post, without competitive interview, instead by demonstrating their ability through their case management.
As an organisation, we support those that wish to step into management through shadowing and training opportunities, but we also know that not all of our Social Workers and Senior Social Workers want to progress to become Practice Leads or Managers, as they continue to thrive in directly supporting children and their families. Our new Specialist Social Work Practitioner post enables our most highly experienced and skilled workers to remain in direct practice whilst providing support to colleagues, whilst their pay reflects their specialist work, aligning with that of Practice Lead.
We are particularly interested in inviting applications from qualified Social Workers with proven track records of supporting families through PLO and court processes but also welcome those who are due to qualify this year or who are newly qualified and are interested in being supported to develop their practice in this field and becoming our future Seniors and Specialist Social Workers.
- Low caseloads (August 2025 average of 12 cases with an ambition to reduce to an average of 10)
- Monthly rewards and recognition draw
- Seaside office space
- Hybrid / flexible working to achieve a work life balance
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Family Friendly Policies
- Excellent pension with the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Access to the Cycle to Work scheme
- Discounted leisure centre and gym membership with Freedom Leisure
Safeguarding
Within Swansea Council there is a \”Safeguarding is Everybody\’s Business\” principle, and this applies to all Swansea Council employees, elected members, volunteers and contractors. Further details can be found at https://www.swansea.gov.uk/corporatesafeguarding
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Social Worker - Senior Social Worker (closing date: 03/12/25) employer: Swansea City & County Council
Contact Detail:
Swansea City & County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Senior Social Worker (closing date: 03/12/25)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Swansea Council on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing a role in the SCP team.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on the Signs of Safety model. Familiarise yourself with its principles and think about how you can apply them in real-life scenarios. This will show that you're not just a good fit, but that you’re genuinely interested in their approach.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of a follow-up! After your interview, send a thank-you email expressing your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a great way to keep your name fresh in their minds and show your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the latest opportunities and updates directly from us, making it easier to stay in the loop.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker - Senior Social Worker (closing date: 03/12/25)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the role of Senior Social Worker. Highlight your experience in supporting families, especially in complex situations like PLO and court processes.
Showcase Your Values: We want to see your commitment to working compassionately with families. Use your application to demonstrate how your values align with our focus on child safety and family support, as this is crucial for us at Swansea Council.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experiences and achievements, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for the team.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! This ensures that we receive all the necessary information and can process your application smoothly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Swansea City & County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re familiar with the Signs of Safety model and how it applies to your practice. Brush up on your knowledge of child protection concerns and the PLO process, as these are key areas for the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work where you've successfully supported families through challenging situations. Highlight your skills in collaboration and how you've worked with other services to provide comprehensive support.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Come prepared with questions that show your interest in the team’s development and the innovative practices they employ. This could include asking about their family networking approach or how they measure success in their collaborative efforts.
✨Demonstrate Your Values
Swansea Council values commitment to supporting children and families. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with theirs and share your passion for making a difference in the lives of vulnerable families.