Senior Social Worker

Bristol City Council; Bristol; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Bristol is looking for a full-time specialist permanence senior social worker to join the children in care teams. The role involves supporting children up to 18, working closely with families and social workers to ensure the best outcomes. Candidates should hold a recognized social work qualification and have a passion for children's welfare and reunification efforts. The position offers a supportive work environment and a chance to make a genuine impact in the community.

Benefits

Local Government Pension scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Must possess a social work qualification.
• Experience working with children in care is preferred.
• Strong understanding of children's rights and legal frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Support children in care and their families.
• Identify and facilitate reunifications when possible.
• Work collaboratively with social workers and family support teams.

Skills

Social work qualification

Knowledge of child welfare

Communication skills

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

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Job description
Full Time, Fixed Term for 12 months.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time specialist permanence senior social worker to join the children in care teams.

Please note you require a social work qualification to apply for this role.

The children in care teams support children up to the age of 18 through their journey in care. We recognise the importance of the child's whole network in building security and safety. We believe coming into care is an extension of the network our children already have, and a large piece of our work is to support and maintain this with a view to reunifying our children with their families if and when it is safe to do so. We are creative in our approach to be certain we meet the needs of our children. Since March 2025 there has been a focus, through our Families First Project, on, where appropriate, finding permanence for our children outside of care through reunification and special guardianship.

Additionally for those children who do require our care that we find homes where children feel they belong and are close to their family networks and communities. We are committed to building and maintaining children's networks and caring for children only for as long as they need our care.

Reunification is supported by legal, emotional and developmental evidence. Some examples of the benefits of reunification are:

• Reduces trauma and emotional distress.
• Enhances sense of belonging and identity.
• Siblings have a greater chance of growing up together.
• Better academic and social performance / outcomes.
• Preserves cultural, religious, and linguistic heritage.
• Maintains ties to local communities and support networks.
• Supports principles of the Children Act 1989.
• Upholds the child's right to family life under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) offers children a more secure and permanent alternative to long-term foster care, and for carers, it provides greater autonomy in raising the child. With an SGO, carers gain legal parental responsibility, allowing them to make decisions about the child's education, health, and daily life without needing ongoing approval from the local authority. This creates a more natural and stable family environment.

Children benefit enormously from the stability and sense of belonging that an SGO provides. Being cared for by someone they know, and trust helps them maintain important family and cultural connections. It reduces the stigma of being "in care" and supports better emotional, educational, and social outcomes. Coram BAAF Research found that children placed under SGOs tend to experience greater stability and experienced better long-term outcomes.

You will work across the service which is made up of eight teams working with around 500 children. The focus of the work is permanence for children in our care.

The role will involve, but is not limited to:

• Working closely with the permanence social workers in the three neighbourhood services
• Develop co-working of between the children in care social workers and the neighbourhood social workers.
• Support workers in network building / mapping and the use of tools such as eco-maps.
• Family Network Meetings: support social workers with organising and chairing family meetings and thinking about how to incorporate the family network into planning for their children's futures.
• Work closely with the senior family support worker to review and progress children's individual family time across their network.
• Identify children who could be considered for reunification with their families.
• Work closely with the manager of the Family Network Team supporting referrals and a shared review of progress.
• Maintain trackers relating to all children's permanence plan; family time; staying family time; reunification and special guardianship to monitor progress.
• Support social workers to write good quality Placement with Parent regs and SWETs to discharge care orders.
• Offer consultation to social workers to discuss and explore children's care plans.
• Work closely with the service manager to offer training on reunification.
• Support in the planning and arrangement of panels and attend the panels.

• Arrange workshops and events to promote permanence outside of care across all services in collaboration with the Family Network Team.

• Be aware of the latest research that can support practice around permanence for our children in care.

Our practice is underpinned by signs of safety, and we encourage a systemic and reflective approach.

We are based at B Bond in an open plan office overlooking the river and Ashton Court. We have high aspirations for our children and are committed to providing services to achieve the best possible outcomes. Your role will benefit from being mostly office based.

If you share this passion and commitment and want to be involved in transforming how we practice improving outcomes for our children in care, we would love to hear from you.

Discover more about Children and Families Social Work on our recruitment site.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation.

Join us and you'll receive an excellent rewards package including membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you'll be working in a supportive environment where you'll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview

Contact Maria Finlayson if you would like to discuss further [e-mail]

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Young people, Black and racially minoritised, Disabled, LGBTQ+ and Male candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you'll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.