Social Worker - Family Solutions Team

Suffolk County Council; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is recruiting Social Workers for the Family Solutions Team to provide intensive, solution-focused interventions with families. The role offers flexible working, a supportive team environment, and comprehensive professional development opportunities within a countywide team covering Suffolk.

Benefits

Up to 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Access to a relocation package of up to £8,000

Free on-site car parking

Flexible working options

Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Must be registered with Social Work England.
• Full driving license and personal transport required.
• Experience in family interventions preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide intensive family interventions to prevent children entering care.
• Support reunification of children in care with their families.
• Sustain placements for children in care.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Relevant social work qualification

Job description

• Suffolk County Council - Riverside, Lowestoft NR33 0EQ or West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU or Landmark House, Ipswich IP1 5PB - Community based
• £36,124 - £39,513 plus retention payment of £4,000 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• 37 hours per week - flexible working options available
• Permanent x 2 posts

We are actively looking to recruit flexible and highly motivated Social Workers to join our Family Solutions Team who share the same commitment, dedication, care, and support as we do.

Your role and responsibilities

Social Workers within the Family Solutions team will work with families and provide an intensive, solution-focused, strength-based, trauma informed intervention. We work in collaboration with case responsible social workers using one of the three models:

• Edge of care: An intensive 12-week intervention, working with the whole family to prevent children entering the care system where it is assessed as safe to do so.
• Reunification: An intensive intervention of up to 20 weeks to support children in care to return home to their parents or someone within their connected network.
• Restore and prevent: An intensive 12-week intervention to sustain placements for Children in Care where there is potential breakdown.

You will need

• a relevant social work qualification and Social Work England registration.
• to hold a full and current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word) . If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application

The team

The team comprises Senior Social Workers, Social Workers and Family Support Practitioners with various skills and expertise; you can develop your social work practice and experience within a supportive team culture. Partnership working is a particular strength within the team, and there is scope for you to build meaningful working relationships across an array of services to develop your role both now and in the future. The Family Solutions Team is a countywide team covering all of Suffolk, with teams based in Lowestoft, Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds. We offer you access to regular supervision. The necessary training to enhance career development through our supportive career pathways programme Progression Scheme (pdf) and to make sure you feel supported within your role. Clinical supervision by a seasoned professional. This does not only benefit your personal wellbeing but directly affects the experience of the children and young people within our care.

Hear from our staff about our Social Work teams.

Find out more about Social Work within SCC Children and Young Peoples Services.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report .

Additional benefits:

• Up to 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays per annum, pro rata for part time
• An uplift of 3 additional annual leave days, pro rata for part time
• 3 protected CPD days per annum
• Access to a relocation package of up to £8,000, a car leasing scheme and a welcome loan of £2,000 for all new Social Workers moving to Suffolk
• Free on-site car parking in all council buildings
• Flexible working options and our commitment to supporting health and wellbeing
• Detailed induction programme, including mandatory Signs of Safety training
• Staff networks are open to staff, councillors and partners that share similar characteristics, life experiences, values and beliefs.

For more information

Please contact Emma Orchard, Practice Manager, for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01728 652373.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx) .

Step 2 - Click Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing [e-mail] or calling 03456 014412.If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 26 June 2025.

Interview date:3 or 4 July 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) .