Social Worker

Bristol City Council; West of England; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pool cars

Job summary

Bristol City Council is seeking a Senior Social Worker to join the Children in Care teams, with deputising and staff development responsibilities. The role focuses on permanence for children in care, fostering strong family networks and kinship care, and travel to placements as required.

You will work with foster homes, children’s homes and semi‑independent settings, using trauma-informed, systemic approaches and leading multi‑agency collaborations. DBS enhanced checks apply.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with appropriate registration and a social work qualification.
• Experience in children in care, foster care, kinship, and care leavers.
• Ability to chair meetings and support multi‑agency networks; trauma-informed practice.

Responsibilities

• Support children in care, foster homes and semi‑independent accommodation.
• Travel as required; pool cars provided to carry out tasks.
• Develop others, participate in risk assessment and chair relevant meetings.
• Aspire to managerial responsibilities within Through Care and safeguarding.

Skills

Trauma-informed

Chair meetings

Risk management

Multi-agency collaboration

Independent working

Leadership aspiration

Education

Social work qualification

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 reference VAC008854 Date posted 22/09/2026 Application closing date 05/10/2026 Location B Bond - West Wing Smeaton Road Hotwells Bristol BS1 6XN Salary BG13: £48,738- £51,928 Package Blank Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Social Care Attachments Person Specification.pdf Job Description.pdf

Full time, PermanentAn exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Senior Social Worker to join the children in care teams, with an interest in deputising and supporting the development of others.

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 have a focus on 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 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.

You will work with children who are being cared for in foster homes (including kinship), children’s homes and children in semi-independent accommodation. 50% of our children live outside of Bristol and some at a distance so travel is a large part of the role.

We supply pool cars for you to be able to carry out your tasks.

The work can be reactive and fast paced and you will need to be trauma informed and creative in response.

The role is diverse, and you will need the ability to work on your own, support the multi-agency network to hold risk, chair meetings relating to your children and have the skills to challenge constructively.

We are looking for Social Workers who aspire to be a manager.

In Through 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. 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.

If you share this passion and commitment, we would love to hear from you.

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.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people.

Any job applicants 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 process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

At 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.