Experienced Social Worker

Torbay Council; Torquay; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Torbay Council is recruiting an Experienced Social Worker to join the Adults & Community Services team in Torbay. The role focuses on delivering high-quality, needs-led social work to adults with complex care needs, through statutory frameworks and collaborative care planning.

You will undertake assessments, manage a demanding caseload, and work with multidisciplinary colleagues to promote independence and safety.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with registration in Social Work England.
• Experience of safeguarding complex adult cases.
• Experience in a local authority setting.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Knowledge of Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Responsibilities

• Undertake proportionate, person-centred assessments and manage a complex caseload.
• Develop and review outcome-focused care and support plans.
• Coordinate interventions with multidisciplinary teams and partners.
• Ensure safeguarding, risk balance, and professional judgement in line with statutory duties.

Skills

Professional judgement

Adult Social Care legislation

Decision making

Communication & collaboration

English fluency

Education

Bachelor/Diploma in Social Work

Job description

Experienced Social Worker

Application Deadline: 25 September 2026

Department: Adults & Community Services

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Torbay Council

Compensation: GBP 42,839 - GBP 46,142 / year

Job Description & Person Specification

Come join us!! Torbay Council is looking to appoint Experienced Social Workers. Do you have the skills to deliver high-quality, intensive support that enables individuals to achieve the best possible outcomes and thrive within their communities? We are recruiting experienced Social Workers to join our Adult Social Care service. Current opportunities exist across a range of teams, including Transitions, Complex Care, and Older Person's Mental Health. We anticipate further opportunities may arise during the recruitment period and reserve the right to consider suitable candidates for other Social Worker vacancies across Adult Social Care.

In this key role, you will work with adults with a range of complex care and support needs, ensuring their safety, wellbeing and independence through effective, strengths-based practice. You will be responsible for undertaking proportionate and person-centred assessments, managing a complex caseload, and developing outcome-focused care and support plans. Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues and partner agencies, you will play a central role in coordinating interventions that reduce risk, promote independence and support individuals to achieve their goals. The role requires confident professional judgement in complex situations, including safeguarding activity, alongside the ability to balance risk, choice and control in line with statutory responsibilities.

You will also be expected to contribute to a culture of high-quality practice through effective communication, clear recording, and strong analytical report writing. You will bring strong knowledge of Adult Social Care legislation, including the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and safeguarding frameworks, alongside excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in emotionally complex situations with professionalism and empathy.

As a Social Worker at Torbay Council, we are looking for motivated, flexible and collaborative professionals who can work both independently and as part of a team, while maintaining a clear focus on delivering high-quality outcomes. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment that values diversity and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

This post involves Regulated Activity and will require an Enhanced DBS check, including a check of the relevant Barred Lists. The disclosure will include details of spent and unspent convictions, cautions (not subject to filtering), and any relevant local police information.

In Torbay, we are entering an important and positive period of change for Adult Social. As part of the planned conclusion of the Section 75 partnership agreement, services currently delivered by South Devon and Torbay NHS Foundation Trust will transfer back to Torbay Council in April next year. As we move towards this transition, all new and existing social care roles will be employed by Torbay Council. From appointment, colleagues will be part of the Council workforce, benefiting from council terms, conditions, local government pension, and employment support.

To ensure continuity of high-quality care for people who use our services, staff will initially work within South Devon and Torbay NHS Foundation Trust. This arrangement will remain in place until the full transfer of services back to the Council at the end of March next year.

For an informal chat please contact Gary Patch at [e-mail] on 07585982673 or Sam French [e-mail] on 07553864160

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 5th October 2026

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Skills

• Ability to exercise professional judgement within statutory frameworks and clearly evidence decision making rationale.
• Ability to apply range of Adult Social Care legislation, proportionality and least restrictive practice in complex situations.
• Commitment to the concepts of a needs-led service, quality standards and service user choice within the context.
• Commitment to the concepts of a needs-led service, quality standards and service user choice within the context.
• Ability to present as an excellent role model for good practice within the multi-disciplinary team.

This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Making Safeguarding Personal and strengths based social work practice.
• Knowledge of professional standards and regulatory requirements relevant to Social Work England.
• Advanced and detailed knowledge/skills of Care Act.
• Proven knowledge/skills of Mental Capacity Act.
• Knowledge of Managing Expectations.

Experience & Qualifications

• Relevant professional Social Work qualification - Degree/Diploma Work, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, Certificate in Social Services.
• Registered with professional body Social Work England.
• Commitment to continued professional development.
• Significant post qualification experience of safeguarding complex adult processes.
• Significant post qualification experience of working with or within in a local authority setting.