Social Worker

Derby City Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension scheme

Team Derby Rewards discounts

Tusker Car Benefit Scheme

Flexible/hybrid working

Job summary

Derby City Council is seeking a qualified Social Worker to join the Careline Emergency Duty Team, providing out-of-hours social work support for vulnerable individuals and families. The role covers Children’s Services, Adult Social Care and Homelessness, with a clear emphasis on safeguarding and timely decision-making.

You will work in a fast-paced, autonomous environment, managing risk and delivering Defensible Decision-making during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Qualifications

• Experience of working within statutory social work services.
• Demonstrates sound assessment and risk management skills.
• Confident in decision-making in complex situations.
• Committed to strengths-based, person-centred practice.
• Works effectively with partners and values collaboration.
• Thrives in a dynamic environment and remains calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Carry out child protection and safeguarding duties.
• Handle adult safeguarding responsibilities.
• Address emergency homelessness and housing needs.
• Provide crisis intervention and risk management.
• Arrange emergency placements and accommodation as required.
• Engage in multi-agency responses with Police, Health and Housing partners.

Skills

Statutory social work experience

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job title Social Worker Job reference 000012620 Date posted 29/10/2026 Application closing date 07/12/2026 Working Pattern Full time Salary £47,665 - £50,908 a year Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Social Care - Children Attachments Blank Job description

• Salary: £47,665 - £50,908 a year
• Location: Kedleston Road, The Gatehouse
• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Working Pattern: Mornings, evenings, weekends and overnight
• Contract Type: Permanent
• DBS Requirement: Yes
• Closing Date: 7th December 2026

The Opportunity

Are you a qualified and passionate Social Worker looking for a varied and rewarding role? Join our Careline our Emergency Duty Team, providing critical out-of-hours support to some of the most vulnerable children, adults and families in our community.

Careline operates outside of normal office hours, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays, delivering emergency social work interventions when immediate support and decision-making are required.

This is a unique opportunity to develop your practice across Children's Services, Adult Social Care and Homelessness, whilst being part of a supportive and dedicated team that makes a real difference out of hours.

If you are motivated by challenge, professional autonomy and the opportunity to have a meaningful impact at times of crisis, we would love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing

• Child Protection and Safeguarding
• Adult Safeguarding
• Emergency Homelessness and Housing Needs
• Crisis intervention and risk management
• Emergency placements and accommodation arrangements
• Multi-agency responses alongside Police, Health and Housing partners

Working within a fast-paced environment, you will undertake assessments, work autonomously, manage risk, and make timely, defensible decisions to safeguard children and adults at risk while ensuring appropriate support is in place until daytime services resume.

About you

• Has experience of working within statutory social work services.
• Demonstrates sound assessment and risk management skills.
• Can make confident decisions in complex and challenging situations.
• Is committed to delivering strengths-based, person-centred practice.
• Works effectively with partners and values collaborative working.
• Thrives in a dynamic environment and can respond calmly under pressure

Who We Are

At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.

Why join Derby City Council?

At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people. Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards – discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme – a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle

Work-Life Balance

• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities

Learning and Development

• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training

Community and Inclusion

• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.