Social Worker (Justice)

The City of Edinburgh Council; Easter Howgate; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A major local authority in Scotland seeks a Social Worker (Justice) focused on delivering trauma-informed, gender-specific support to women involved in the justice system. The ideal candidate will possess a social work qualification, experience in justice settings, and a commitment to professional growth. This full-time position offers a supportive work culture at the Newkirkgate Social Work Centre, backed by a strong commitment to employee wellbeing and diversity. The role includes responsibilities for one-on-one support and group interventions, requiring strong communication skills.

Benefits

High level of training and continuous professional development

Flexible working options

Commitment to employee wellbeing

Qualifications

• Demonstrable ability to transfer knowledge, skills and practice in a professional setting.
• Understanding and experience of working with individuals with complex needs.
• Commitment to continuous professional development through training.

Responsibilities

• Deliver trauma informed and gender specific services to women.
• Conduct assessments and manage risk and needs.
• Utilize a behavioral and technical interview approach for candidate selection.

Skills

Experience working with adults or young people with challenging behaviour

Experience working in a justice setting

Experience working in a secondary setting

Knowledge of social work legislation and social policy

Knowledge of social work theory

Understanding of trauma and its impact

Gendered approach to criminal justice

Ability to communicate and engage with others

Education

Social work qualification recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)

Registration with SSSC

Tools

Knowledge of approved risk assessment tools

Job description

Social Worker (Justice) - Willow, Justice Services

Job Description

Women's Justice Social Worker Willow

Edinburgh Justice Services are committed to providing high quality services while ensuring a compassionate approach to people accessing our services and supporting staff wellbeing. We offer a high level of training to support continuous professional development and to deliver a broad range of interventions, including established accredited group work programmes. We are implementing Trauma Informed Care, Safe & Together™ and Restorative Justice practice models and interventions across our services and have established a Women’s Centre, from where all Justice Services for women are delivered, to reduce barriers and meet the needs of women involved in the Justice System.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Willow Service, where we offer trauma informed, evidence based and gender specific services. Women that are aged 18 and above can attend as part of a statutory order or voluntarily, including women entitled to support due to their partner’s or ex‑partner’s involvement with the Caledonian system.

The team is multi-disciplinary and includes support workers, social workers, psychologists, nursing staff as well as key third sector partners and peer supporters, all of whom contribute to the delivery of a range of interventions and support offered to the women in an integrated way. This includes the provision of one‑to‑one and group work interventions as well as community outreach support.

The post is open to female candidates only (Occupational Requirement exception under Equality Act 2010).

This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre‑employment checks being deemed satisfactory.

We're committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included and able to be their best at work, and we recognise the benefits that a diverse workforce with different values, beliefs, experience, and backgrounds brings to us as an organisation.

As part of our goal to improve our organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure that we’re bringing the best people into our roles, not just in their skills and experience but also in their approach to work.

To help achieve this, we’re changing the way we interview and assess candidates by moving from a competency‑based interview approach to a behavioural and technical (skills for the job) based approach. This new way of interviewing will allow us to assess how you think and how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.

Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range.

Happy to talk flexible working.

Experience

Previous work or student placement experience that demonstrates an ability to transfer knowledge, skills and practice.

• Previous experience of working with adults or young people with challenging behaviour
• Previous experience of working in a justice setting
• Previous experience of working in a secondary setting

Knowledge, Skills and Understanding

• Knowledge of social work legislation and social policy
• Knowledge of social work theory and possible explanations for offending behaviour and desistance
• An understanding of the issues surrounding working with women with complex needs who may have experienced trauma
• An understanding of the gendered approach to working with women who are in or have had contact with the criminal justice system

• Knowledge of Scottish Government’s National Outcomes and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice system and other key policies and guidelines
• Knowledge of the research on effective practice with people who have offended
• Knowledge and understanding of the impact of trauma into adulthood, trauma‑enhanced practice and evidence‑based approaches when working with complex trauma survivors
• Understanding of the complexities of, and the impact of, domestic abuse on adults and children

Qualifications and Training

• Social work qualification recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
• Registration with SSSC
• Adherence to the values and principles enshrined in the SSSC Code of Practice
• A desire to develop professional knowledge, skills and practice through training and continuous professional development opportunities

• Previous training relevant to the post applied for
• Post qualifying training – working towards the Post Qualifying or Advanced Award or other residential assessment training
• Child and Adult Protection training
• RMA Risk Practice Training
• Training in and experience of the use of a wide range of approved risk assessment tools
• Other relevant training (e.g. MF:MC, Caledonian, Safe and Together).

Job Specific Requirements

• An ability to work prescribed standards set within the framework of NOS and the Criminal Justice Branch procedures and policy
• An understanding of the issues around managing change in self, others or organisations
• An understanding of professional and personal authority, how to exercise discretion and how to use it appropriately
• An ability to communicate and engage with others
• An ability to establish and maintain working relationships
• An ability to reflect on practice – self, others and the organisation
• An understanding of assessment and management issues in relation to risk and need
• An ability to undertake assessments
• An understanding of anti‑discriminatory practice
• An understanding of offending behaviour work which is victim‑focused

About Us

THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL

About Us: Are you keen to shape the future of Scotland’s capital city? The City of Edinburgh Council is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to work with us and deliver key services across our capital city. We’re the second largest local authority in Scotland with a workforce of over 19,000 who all play a crucial role in maintaining and supporting vital services to over 500,000 residents. We offer an incredible variety of career opportunities across a broad range of sectors. Join us and you’ll find a role where you can make a difference and grow your career.

Our Culture: Our Behaviours, respect, integrity, and flexibility guide everything that we do, and we strive to make sure all colleagues feel valued and have a sense of belonging in the workplace. We want to make sure that we bring people into our roles who demonstrate Our Behaviours and are dedicated and committed to our purpose of serving our community. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service to meet citizens needs and make the city a better place.

We recognise the benefits that diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds bring to our organisation, and we’re committed to employing a workforce that represents the population of the city we serve. We particularly encourage applicants from under‑represented groups including women, LGBT+ people, racially minoritised groups, people with disabilities and people who are neurodivergent.

As part of our commitment to inclusive recruitment, we're delighted to announce that we have extended our guaranteed interview scheme to include all applicants who are or have been care experienced, and who meet the essential criteria for the post. This extends our current arrangements of being a Disability Confident Employer, that guarantee an interview to applicants who meet the criteria for the post and who declare a disability.

Happy to talk flexible working.

Colleague Support and Wellbeing: As outlined in our People Strategy 2024‑27, we aim to nurture a healthy workforce where we can all thrive. We offer regular events, initiatives and learning opportunities covering a range of different health and wellbeing topics.

We’re committed to supporting employees to achieve a healthy work life balance. There are several policies in place to support this ranging from flexible work options to career breaks. Our full suite of employment policies can be found here.

We have a range of support options available including access to counselling, a mental health support service, an occupational health service, speak up supporters and a colleague listening service.

Reasonable Adjustments: We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience at work for all our colleagues and we’ll work hard to ensure that we meet the changing needs of colleagues throughout their time with us. We’re also geared up to support all candidates who may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Candidates invited for interview, should let the hiring manager know what they need, and they will do everything they can to accommodate your request.

Job Info

• Job Identification 13049
• Job Category Social Services / Social Work / Social Care
• Posting Date 01/06/2026, 12:54 PM
• Apply Before 01/20/2026, 11:55 PM
• Degree Level SCQF 10 - Degree (Honours)
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations Newkirkgate Social Work Centre
• Contract Type Permanent
• Annual Working Duration 52 Weeks