Social Worker

Hampshire County Council; Havant; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Flexible working

Career development days

Back-office support

Wellbeing support

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is recruiting a Social Worker to join the Refugee Team in Havant. You will support separated children, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, refugee young people, and families, delivering practical, relationship-based support and safeguarding.

You will lead assessments, care planning, and multi‑agency collaboration in a trauma-informed, child-centred approach. This permanent role offers hybrid working, a competitive salary, and a commitment to wellbeing and professional

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experience in a UK-based statutory social work setting.
• Senior Social Workers will have significant post-qualifying experience and mentor colleagues.
• Ability to engage families and build trust; assess risk and plan effectively.

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

Mentoring

Job description

Social Worker

Job Reference: HCC624819
Salary Range: £41,985 - £53,315 per annum, inclusive of up to £6,750 per annum Market Supplement
Work Location: Havant Plaza, Havant (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37 (part-time hours will be considered)
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 23 September 2026

The Role:

Join our Refugee Team as a Children’s Social Worker and play a vital role in supporting separated children, unaccompanied asylum‑seeking children, refugee young people, care leavers, families with No Recourse to Public Funds, and those arriving through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. You will help them to feel safe, settled and supported as they begin to rebuild their lives in the UK. This is a unique opportunity to join a creative and dedicated service working with children, young people and families who may have experienced trauma, loss, uncertainty, disrupted education, family separation, insecure immigration status, financial hardship and significant life transitions. You will work collaboratively with Care Leaver Personal Advisers, managers, carers, education providers, health professionals, legal representatives, interpreters and partner agencies to deliver practical, relationship‑based support. Through your work, you will empower young people to understand their rights and entitlements, access education and healthcare, sustain suitable accommodation, build independence, and make informed plans for their future. 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.

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. Please note this role is not open to Newly Qualified Social Workers.
• Experience working in a UK based statutory social work setting.
• Senior Social Workers will have significant post qualifying experience 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.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Social Worker role, team and our values. The section 'About you' explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about.

• 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. Find more informationhere .

Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received, therefore the advert may close early.

Important: You must already have the right to work in the UK. We are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Please note: This role is not open to Newly Qualified Social Workers.

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

Travel Requirements:

You will be required to travel to various locations within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight or other local authority, and it is essential that you have a current drivers’ licence and access to a reliable vehicle on a regular basis.

The post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.