Social Worker - Children in Care

Hoople; Hereford; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Hereford is seeking a dedicated Social Worker for Children in Care. The role involves working directly with children and families, promoting their well-being, and collaborating with professionals. The position offers a competitive salary of £36,363 to £45,777, relocation assistance, and a supportive team environment aimed at improving children's lives. Join us and make a real difference in your community.

Benefits

£10,000 welcome payment

Up to £10,000 relocation package

Flexible working options

Generous holiday entitlement

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Degree in Social Work or equivalent qualification.
• Experience working with children and families.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with children and families in care.
• Support children’s development and well-being.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Passion for working with children

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Social Worker – Children in Care

Hours: 37 per week

Salary: HC8 £36,363 - £40,777 (plus £5,000 market rate supplement per year £41,363 - £45,777)

Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)

Relocation package: up to £10,000 available

Contract: permanent

Closing date: 12/10/2025

Come and join us on our Restorative Journey of Improvement to gain the best for children and families in Herefordshire.

The Role

Hi, my name is Dorine Rai and I am the Permanent Service Manager for the Children in Care Teams in Herefordshire. We are making progress against our improvement plans and are looking for passionate and committed Social Workers for our Children in Care teams who value the opportunity to work directly with children and families. We have a strong coproduction ethos in the service to help children feel a sense of belonging, security and to thrive and achieve.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact me by either phone at 01432 260665, or via email [e-mail].

Working within the Children & Young People in Care Team you will bring your knowledge and experience to a supportive team, working closely with colleagues from multiple professions to ensure that the voice of the child is always heard. This is an exciting opportunity to have a genuine impact on the local authority and help improve and protect the children and young people within it.

We recognise the importance of feeling valued as a Social Worker and aim to celebrate staff achievements, recognise good practice, and promote a working environment where staff feel valued, supported and developed. Good training opportunities are regularly provided.

Curious about what it’s really like to be a Social Worker with us? Want to know what it feels like to work with our passionate and dedicated Social Work teams? This short video gives you a glimpse into the heart of our service and shows why Herefordshire Council could be the perfect place for your next career move.

https://youtu.be/FSjU-FV5uic

We Offer

A competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Social Worker starting salary: HC8 £36,363 to £40,777 per annum
• Market rate supplement: plus £5,000 per year
• Welcome payment: £10,000 for experienced social workers joining our children’s teams (see attached guidance)
• Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000
• Pension Scheme: Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)
• Professional development: protected time and budget to support social workers develop themselves and their careers
• Career progression: clear pathways to progress to senior social worker level
• Generous Annual Leave: 31 days (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum
• Flexible working: flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home working
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Payment of professional membership fees
• Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.

The Council plan sets out how we will make our contribution to achieving a better and more successful Herefordshire. Please see the link below to find out more:
Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-28

About Us

Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county located in the heart of the Marches on the border with Wales. We are one of the most rural and sparsely populated counties in England with a wealth of countryside, heritage, and market towns.

Our priority is to keep children safe and give them a great start in life. This is a priority for the council, partners and all staff who work with Children & Young People. We invest in training and developing staff in our relational practice approach with our improvement partner Leeds City Council.

Herefordshire has a strong team ethos and a focus on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If offered this position, it will be subject to a DBS check and other pre-employment checks. We welcome applicants regardless of personal characteristics or social identity and will consider flexible working or reasonable adjustments.

The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability (Disability Confident scheme)
• Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they serve in the Armed Forces or have served, or their families (Armed Forces Covenant)
• Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are a Herefordshire care leaver

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more details of this role. To apply, please submit your CV and complete the supporting statement within the application form, referring to the job description & person specification, detailing how you meet the specific requirements of the role.

Please note: the council is currently unable to offer overseas visa sponsorship for Social Worker roles in Children & Young People. Overseas prospective candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK should not apply for these roles. A full list of current vacancies can be found here: https://spiritofherefordshire.com/children-young-people/jobs/