Social Worker – Duty Team - MID07801

Midlothian Council; Dalkeith; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

Midlothian Council's Duty Team in Children's Services invites applications from qualified social workers. The role is 36 hours per week, fixed-term for 1 year (maternity cover), joining the front door to statutory services.

You will undertake initial assessments with agencies, require PVG for regulated work, and be registered with SSSC; salary starts at £44,989.60 per year for this post.

Qualifications

• Social Work degree or Diploma in Social Work with SSSC registration.

Responsibilities

• Undertake initial assessments with multi‑agency partners.
• Provide advice, support and short‑term interventions.
• Engage families early to promote wellbeing and safety.
• Record cases accurately and maintain reports.
• Work well in a team and use own initiative.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Case recording

Report writing

Assessment planning

Teamwork

Driving licence

Education

Degree in Social Work

Dip in Social Work / SSSC registration

SSSC registration

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified social worker to join our Duty Team in Children's Services in Midlothian. As the “front door” to statutory Children’s Services, our team is shifting from a primarily child protection investigatory response toward a strengths-based, relational way of working that prioritises “how we can help” from the very first contact.

We aim to engage families early, uphold strong front-door principles, and provide meaningful, proportionate support that promotes wellbeing, equity and inclusion.

Working as part of an experienced and motivated team, you will work under Child Protection and Looked After and Accommodated structures and Council policies and procedures to undertake initial assessments, provide advice, support, and short-term interventions. Initial assessments will be undertaken working closely with our police, health, education and third sector colleagues, with a shared goal of promoting Children & Young People’s safety and wellbeing Children’s views and wishes are the foundation of our assessments and intervention: candidates should be confident and highly skilled communicators. We offer a supportive team environment and excellent opportunities for continuous professional development. We value our workforce and provide staff with manageable caseloads.

KNOWLEDGE

A degree in Social Work and registration with the SSSC as a Social Worker, a Diploma in Social Work with SSSC registration as a social worker is an acceptable alternative.

Skills

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Accurate case recording and report writing
• Ability to consider all available information to inform assessment, agree outcomes and develop action plans
• Be able to work well as part of a team and act on own initiative
• Full (valid) driving licence

CLOSING DATE - Sunday 22nd November, 2026

Job Advert

Position Title: Social Worker – Duty Team

Contract Status: Fixed Term for 1 year (Maternity Cover)

Hours of Work: 36 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday

Weeks per year: 52

Please note that it is Midlothian Councils policy that successful applicants will be appointed to the first point on the salary scale.

Based on 36 hours over 52 weeks per year, the minimum actual salary for this position is £44,989.60 per annum.

Requirements

This post is considered Regulated Work with Protected Adults and Children under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with Protected Adults and/or Children.

Successful candidates will require PVG Scheme membership for Regulated Work with Protected Adults and Children, You will be required to join the Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check prior to commencing employment with Midlothian Council, the cost of which will be met by you. For further information on the PVG Scheme please visit

www.disclosurescotland.gov.uk

Once you have submitted your application and this has been processed you will be notified by email from Disclosure Scotland that your certificate is available to view. Once you have viewed your certificate you will be allowed to share this with your employer and it is only available for 14 days from the first day you have viewed the certificate. If you do not grant access to Midlothian Council to view before access is removed, a further application will need to be generated, and this will incur an additional cost.

Please note:

If you have spent more than 3 months working or living out with the UK in the last 5 years then you will also be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the

GOV.UK website.

SSSC registration is an essential requirement of this role. If you are appointed and are not already a member of the relevant section of the SSSC Register, you will be required to apply for registration within 3 months of your start date to ensure that you are registered within the required 6 months.

Additional Information

Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian. As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations. Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

If you are a trainee of a Midlothian Council Training Programme, have a disability or you are a care experienced young person who has previously been a looked after child, you are eligible for a guaranteed interview if you meet the essential criteria for the post.