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Hampshire County Council; New Forest, Eastleigh, Winchester; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Relocation assistance up to £8,500

Health & wellbeing support

Learning opportunities & CPD

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is seeking a Children’s Social Worker or Senior Social Worker to support children and families across Hampshire. Hybrid working and locations include New Forest, Eastleigh and Winchester (SO23 8UJ) with strong safeguarding and multi-agency collaboration.

The role offers mentoring for seniors, formal supervision, and a commitment to reflective practice. A UK statutory social work background and Social Work England registration are essential.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experience in a UK-based statutory social work setting.
• Senior Social Worker: minimum 3 years post-qualifying experience and mentoring responsibilities.
• Strong relationship building and communication skills with the ability to engage families and build trust.
• Confident in assessing risk, analysing information, developing effective plans, and producing high-quality reports.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding, relevant legal frameworks, equality and best value principles.
• Ability to manage complex caseloads and work effectively within multi-agency settings.
• Creative, flexible and forward-thinking approach to practice.

Responsibilities

• Build strong, meaningful relationships with children and families to enable positive change.
• Lead on assessments, care planning and interventions that safeguard and promote wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to deliver effective, holistic support.
• Manage complex caseloads with autonomy, creativity and a strong focus on outcomes.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and reflective practice.
• As a Senior Social Worker, provide mentoring and practice support to colleagues and contribute to service development.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Report writing

Multi-agency collaboration

Mentoring (Senior Role)

Job description

Location: New Forest or Eastleigh & Winchester (Hybrid Working), SO23 8UJ

Join us as a Children’s Social Worker or Senior Social Worker and make a genuine difference in the lives of children and families across Hampshire. We’re proud to be part of a select group of local authorities recognised by Ofsted as Outstanding for the quality and impact of our children’s services.

Across our Children in Care, Family Help and Refugee teams, you’ll support children, young people and families through key stages of their journey.

• In the Children in Care Teams, you’ll support care experienced children by meeting statutory duties, helping them move from residential care into foster or post 16 placements and completing a range of assessments while working with partners to safeguard young people at risk of exploitation.
• Within our Family Help Teams, you’ll deliver strengths based interventions and family plans that keep children safely at home. Through practical, solution focused support, you’ll help families build on their strengths, overcome challenges and achieve better long term outcomes.
• Joining our Refugee Teams, you’ll work with separated children, unaccompanied minors, care leavers and families with No Recourse to Public Funds - from arrival and initial assessments, through navigating the asylum process and moving towards independence, with a focus on family reunification.

What you'll do:

• Build strong, meaningful relationships with children and families to enable positive change.
• Lead on assessments, care planning, and interventions that safeguard and promote wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to deliver effective, holistic support.
• Manage complex caseloads with autonomy, creativity, and a strong focus on outcomes.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and reflective practice.
• As a Senior Social Worker, provide mentoring and practice support to colleagues, role model high standards of social work, and contribute to reflective practice and service development.

What we're looking for:

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experience working in a UK based statutory social work setting.
• Senior Social Workers will have significant post qualifying experience (minimum 3 years) and be comfortable mentoring colleagues and role modelling best practice.
• Strong relationship building and communication skills, with the ability to engage families and build trust.
• Confident in assessing risk, analysing information, developing effective plans, and producing clear, high quality reports.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding, relevant legal frameworks, equality, and best value principles.
• Ability to manage complex caseloads and work effectively within multi agency settings.
• A creative, flexible, and forward thinking approach to practice.

Please note: This role is not open to Newly Qualified Social Workers. If you are a recent graduate, please apply through our Graduate Entry Training Scheme (GETS).

Why join us?

• Outstanding support: Regular, reflective supervision and a culture that values your voice.
• Flexible working: Including a 9-day fortnight and hybrid options to support work-life balance.
• Career development: 5 personal development days per year and access to excellent learning opportunities through our DfE ‘Partner in Practice’ initiative.
• Back-office support: Dedicated business support team to free up your time for frontline work.
• Relocation assistance: Up to £8,500 available for experienced UK-based Social Workers relocating to Hampshire (subject to management approval).
• Wellbeing support: Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
• Competitive benefits package: Generous annual leave, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Other job titles you may be searching for may include: Welfare Worker, Case Manager, Social Work Practitioner, Children’s Services Practitioner, Child Protection Social Worker, Children and Families Social Worker, Safeguarding Social Worker, Family Support Social Worker, Senior Case Manager, Advanced Social Work Practitioner.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

Social Worker HCC623824

Company: Hampshire County Council Salary: £40,643 to £51,827 a year Hours: Full-time Location: New Forest or Eastleigh & Winchester (Hybrid Working), SO23 8UJ Working pattern: Hybrid - 4 days remote Job type: Permanent Posting date: 21 Aug 2026 Closing date: 18 Sept 2026

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

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