Social Worker - ASET

Durham County Council; North East; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham County Council is seeking an enthusiastic social worker to join the Adolescent Safeguarding and Exploitation Team. This role involves supporting vulnerable teenagers at risk of harm, advocating on their behalf, and working collaboratively within a fully staffed team. The position offers opportunities for career development, flexible working options, and a supportive environment.

Benefits

Up to 32 days of leave

Government pension scheme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Current Social Work England Registration required.
• Successful completion of the ASYE program.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support teenagers at risk of harm outside the family home.
• Form positive relationships and advocate for young people.
• Collaborate with various teams and partner agencies.

Skills

Advocacy

Relationship Building

Negotiation

Education

Degree in Social Work

PDDipSW, CQSW, DipSW, CSS

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic and innovative social worker who has completed their assessed and supported year in employment and is passionate about working with vulnerable teenagers across County Durham to join our Adolescent Safeguarding and Exploitation Team (ASET).

Our ASET team supports young people who are at risk of, or experiencing, harm outside of the family home, including child exploitation, mental health, radicalisation, and homelessness. This is a great opportunity to join a fully staffed and experienced team of 8 in a new post.

What do Ofsted say about us?

You will be joining us at a fantastic time. Inspectors have just judged our Children’s Services as outstanding. You can read the full report here.

What is involved?

This rewarding role involves supporting teenagers at risk of, or experiencing, harm outside of the family home. You will form positive relationships with young people, negotiate and advocate on their behalf, and work with a limited caseload to ensure they receive the necessary support. You will use the Signs of Safety social work model to understand young people’s experiences.

You will collaborate closely with teams such as Child Exploitation, Supporting Solutions, and Rapid Response, as well as partner agencies including police and CAMHS.

For an informal discussion, contact Donna Atkinson, Social Work Consultant, at [e-mail] or Sue Thornton, Team Manager, at [e-mail].

How will I be supported?

We prioritize your wellbeing and support you through regular supervision, a social work consultant, and group supervision. We promote a healthy work/life balance with flexible and hybrid working options, including compressed hours.

We invest in your future with a comprehensive induction, training, and opportunities for career development in practice or management.

Learn more about children’s social work in Durham on our webpage.

What will I need?

• A degree in social work or an equivalent qualification, e.g., PDDipSW, CQSW, DipSW, CSS.
• Current Social Work England Registration.
• Successful completion of the ASYE program.

Refer to the attached person specification for full criteria. If successful, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure will be required.

Benefits and rewards

We offer competitive salaries, up to 32 days of leave, a government pension scheme, and flexible/hybrid working options. More details are available here.

Social media

Follow us on Instagram here and Facebook here for updates on opportunities.

Hybrid working

Our hybrid model involves 2 days in the office and 3 days remote, with flexibility for part-time roles and manager discretion.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We are committed to equal opportunities and support applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. More info is on our website.

Interviews

Interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 9 June 2025. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for eligible applicants.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal, with evidence of essential and desirable criteria in the 'Person Specification' section. CVs are not accepted.

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