Social Worker (Disabled Children's Team)

Hampshire County Council; Alton; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Relocation assistance up to £8,500

Learning opportunities through DfE

Health & wellbeing support

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is seeking an experienced Children’s Social Worker or Senior Social Worker to make a measurable difference for children and families across Hampshire. You will work in a stable, well-established Disabled Children’s Team delivering statutory services, including assessments, safeguarding, and care planning.

You will collaborate with multi-agency partners, manage complex caseloads, and contribute to service development.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England (not open to Newly Qualified).
• Experience in a UK statutory social work setting.
• Senior role requires post-qualifying experience and mentoring ability.
• Strong relationship building and communication skills to engage families.

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.
• Collaborate with multi‑agency partners to deliver holistic support.
• Manage complex caseloads with autonomy and focus on outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and reflective practice.
• Senior social worker: mentor colleagues and model high professional standards.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication

Safeguarding knowledge

Multi-agency collaboration

Mentoring (Senior)

Education

Social Work England registered

Job description

Join our Disabled Children’s Team as a Children’s Social Worker or Senior Social Worker and make a genuine difference in the lives of children and families across Hampshire.

You’ll join a stable, well-established team delivering high-quality statutory services across a broad range of work, including assessments, safeguarding, care planning, and support for looked‑after children. You’ll work in a team with strong multi‑agency collaboration and a culture that values professional curiosity, strengths‑based practice, and keeping the child’s voice at the centre of everything we do.

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.

Why join us?

• 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.

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.