Social Worker (Children's Services) - City Wide

Salary: £40,501 - £47,639

Hours: up to 36 per week

Children’s Services in Edinburgh aim for the city’s children to be safe, healthy, nurtured, educated, active and respected. Our teams provide services to help children, young people and their families deal with difficult situations at various stages in their lives. You will be part of a service that champions rights‑based, person‑centred approaches to achieve positive change.

This is an exciting time to join Edinburgh. Following a service review, we are implementing a new structure to ensure innovative social work practice. We are also moving to the Mosaic case management system, providing our social workers with a more efficient platform that reduces administration and increases time spent working directly with children and families. We are exploring how AI tools can enhance our practice.

Due to posts created by the service review, we have vacancies across the following teams:

• Contact and Assessment Team: A city‑wide service responsible for initial assessments when requests for a social work service are first made. The focus of the team is short‑term assessment and intervention predominately on a voluntary rather than statutory basis.
• Child Protection Resource: A city‑wide service that undertakes initial child protection assessments for children and young people. The focus of the team is immediate risk assessment and intervention. Applicants must have previous experience of undertaking assessments of need and risk for children and young people in a social work setting.
• Children’s Practice Teams: Social workers in practice teams work collaboratively with families and professionals to carry out assessments, manage risk and deliver targeted interventions for children and young people living at home and those who are looked after and accommodated.
• Children Affected by Disability Team: A city‑wide service that assesses need and provides specialised support for children, young people and their families where there are substantial or long‑lasting disabilities.
• Young People’s Service: A city‑wide service that works with children and young people in conflict with the law. The team works with children, young people and their families on a voluntary and statutory basis within both the Children’s Hearings and justice systems.

Please state which team or teams you are interested in being considered for within your application.

Skills and experience required:

• Social Work qualification recognised by the SSSC
• Registration with the SSSC
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment and prioritise effectively
• Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development

Support and development:

• Personalised induction
• Named mentor
• Regular supervision from a Team Leader
• Learning and development specific to your role
• Newly Qualified workers will be supported through their SSSC NQSW Supported Year with a reduced caseload, clear practice standards and tailored development opportunities
• All workers will benefit from manageable caseloads, clear practice standards and opportunities for career progression
• Opportunities to study for the Child Protection and Welfare postgraduate certificate and upon completion receive an additional monthly payment
• Opportunities to study for the Mental Health Officer Award then operate as a Mental Health Officer alongside your main role
• Opportunities to study for the Practice Educator Award and then receive an additional financial payment for students who successfully pass their placement

Benefits of working for Edinburgh:

• Flexible and hybrid working
• Generous annual leave entitlement which increases based on years in post
• Public holidays and discretionary leave
• Member of Lothian Pension Scheme where the current Edinburgh employer contribution rate is over 17%
• Family‑friendly policies and wellbeing support, including access to a specialist service providing wellness and counselling support
• Access to a wide range of employee benefits, including Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes, discounted gym membership, home and electronics benefits
• Paid SSSC membership (where applicable)
• Sponsorship for a New Entrant Skilled Worker Visa (where applicable)

This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre‑employment checks being deemed satisfactory.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued and able to be their best. We particularly encourage applications from women for senior roles, as well as people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities or neurodivergent people, care experienced people, carers and LGBT+ people across all levels of the organisation, all of whom are currently underrepresented. All applicants will be considered fairly based on skills and experience. Disabled and care‑experienced applicants who meet the minimum job criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

As part of our goal to improve organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure we're recruiting the best people. We're interested not only in your skills and experience but also in your approach to work. Therefore, part of our interview process will be an assessment of how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.

Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range. Happy to talk flexible working.