Social Worker/Senior Social Worker - Locality Teams

Together for Children Sunderland; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused children's service provider in Sunderland is seeking a Social Worker/Senior Social Worker to join its Locality Teams. This full-time, permanent position offers competitive pay (£37,280 - £47,181) and additional benefits, including an Essential Car User Allowance. Ideal candidates will have at least one year of experience and a passion for child welfare. The role involves assessing children's needs and building supportive relationships. Join a company recognized as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted and contribute to making a lasting impact on children's lives.

Benefits

Free onsite parking

Comprehensive training and development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Local Government Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience working in a social work setting.
• Completion of ASYE is desirable, but not essential.
• Ability to assess and support children and young people needs.

Responsibilities

• Undertake assessments of Children in Need and Children in Need of Protection.
• Build relationships with children, young people, their families, and networks.
• Work within relevant policies and procedures to keep children safe.

Skills

Child-Centred

Respectful

Creative

Transparent

Relationship Building

Education

Minimum one year's post-qualifying experience

Job description

Social Worker/Senior Social Worker – Locality Teams

Grade 7/8: £37,280 - £47,181 per annum
Plus an Essential Car User Allowance: £1,239 per annum and 2% Recruitment and Retention Allowance paid monthly

Permanent/Full time position

This is your opportunity to join our ‘Outstanding’ Company and make a difference! We are proud that Together for Children Sunderland is rated ‘outstanding’ in a judgement by Ofsted in 2021, and have maintained that rating in 2025, in recognition of the stability of our very well supported and talented workforce which delivers an ongoing commitment to improving children’s outcomes. Join us and help us continue our outstanding journey!

You must have a minimum of one year’s post‑qualifying experience. Completion of ASYE is desirable, but not essential.

Together for Children are looking to appoint an experienced Social Worker/Senior Social Worker within our Locality social work teams. We work on behalf of Sunderland City Council to deliver children’s services in the city.

Our company values are Child‑Centred, Respectful, Creative and Transparent and this is what you can expect when you join us. We are an Ofsted‑rated Outstanding service, ‘where all workers have reasonable caseloads and are well supported by visible and approachable managers; as a result, social workers are supported to carry out innovative work with children’ (Ofsted 2021).

You will need to build relationships with children, young people, their families and networks, and work directly with them to undertake assessments of Children in Need and Children in Need of Protection. This will help us understand what life is like for them and how we can support them and their networks to make long lasting changes. You would do this in line with the relevant policies and procedures in place within Together for Children and Sunderland Safeguarding Board which support us to keep children and young people safe.

Why Choose Us?

Outstanding Recognition: Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2021 and 2025 for our stable, well‑supported, and talented workforce.

Supportive Environment: Benefit from high levels of support and guidance from experienced Team Managers and Assistant Team Managers.

Professional Growth: Access to ongoing training and development programmes and regular reflective supervision.

Innovative Practice: We use the Signs of Safety model, with extensive training and support provided.

What We Offer:

• Visible Leadership: "The workforce is motivated and inspired by leaders and managers to continually improve their practice and children’s outcomes" - Ofsted 2025
• Comprehensive Training: Extensive training and development opportunities through our dedicated Practice Development team.
• Work‑Life Balance: Flexible working arrangements, agile working policy, and a good health and wellbeing programme.
• Attractive Benefits: Free onsite parking at the Sanhill Centre, car lease scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, and flexi scheme.

If you would like to have an informal discussion, please do not hesitate to contact Leighann Wilson at [e-mail]

Together for Children is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure will be sought along with other relevant pre‑employment checks.

As part of this commitment, we work collaboratively with our established employee networks:

• Accessibility Network
• LGBTQ+ Network
• Racial Equality Network
• Armed Forces Network
• Menopause Network

We welcome and encourage job applications from candidates regardless of their age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race, and background.

If you have a disability please do reach out to our Accessibility Network Chair to hear how we can support you during the recruitment process and if you are successful, in the workplace: [e-mail]

Nearly 40 per cent of foster carers combine fostering with other work. Those who do say that a supportive employer can make all the difference, enabling them to balance employment with caring for children.

Together for Children have a fostering friendly People policy for all foster carers in their employment (regardless of their fostering service). This includes offering foster carers flexible working and paid time off for training and settling a new child into their home.

As a Fostering Friendly employer, Together for Children also help promote Foster Care Fortnight™, our annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering and encourage people to consider becoming foster carers and offer children the care they need – Foster with North East – Foster with North East.