Social Worker / Senior Social Worker - Response Team

South Gloucestershire Council; England; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority organization in England is seeking a Social Worker for their Response Team. The role involves assessing risks to vulnerable children and working closely with families to improve their outcomes. Ideal candidates should be qualified social workers with registrations and experience in managing child protection cases. The position offers a competitive salary ranging from £36,363 to £48,226 and a supportive environment for professional growth, alongside significant benefits including relocation packages and financial incentives.

Benefits

Recruitment payment of £3,000

Retention payment of £3,000 after two years

Up to £8,000 relocation package

Flexible working arrangements

Generous annual leave entitlement

Pension benefits

Reimbursement of Social Work England registration fees

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with relevant registration to practice (SWE registration).
• Experience in conducting statutory assessments and managing risk.
• Evidence of successful strategies to improve outcomes for children and families.

Responsibilities

• Assessing and managing risks to ensure children's safety.
• Working with families to help children achieve ambitions.
• Conducting statutory assessments for social care intervention.

Skills

Understanding of asset and strengths-based approaches to social work

Ability to assess and manage risk for vulnerable children

Problem-solving

Collaborative work with children and families

Education

Qualified social worker with SWE registration

Job description

Social Worker / Senior Social Worker - Response Team

Location Badminton Road

Salary Range £36,363 - £48,226

Position Type Full-Time

Contract Type Permanent

Hours 37.00

Job Description

How you'll make a difference

Our social workers make a real difference. Every day, they work with families to help children and young people who have had a difficult start in life to achieve their ambitions. You will be listening to young people and putting them at the heart of all that we do. Working in partnership with families, you will equip them with the skills they need to ensure young people live in happy, healthy and safe homes.

Although this post is advertised as a full‑time position, we encourage and welcome applications from experienced social workers who may be seeking part‑time, job share or flexible working arrangements.

What you will be doing

• We have a strong culture of giving staff the time, freedom and support to explore new and better ways of doing things, so we’re looking for individuals keen to use their creativity to deliver high quality, child‑centred practices, which ensure the best outcomes for children and families.
• The Response team sits within the Front Door of our Integrated Children’s Service. You will be assessing and managing risk where there is possible, or actual, significant harm to children to ensure that children are kept safe and protected from abuse.
• Regularly, you will undertake statutory assessments of cases meeting the threshold for social care intervention, this includes child protection investigations.

What we need from you

• We require you to be a qualified social worker with relevant registration to practice (SWE registration) and a good understanding of asset and strengths‑based approaches to social work. In addition, you will have already successfully completed your ASYE (where qualifying since 2012).
• Ideally, you will be able to evidence significant skills, knowledge and experience to be able to assess and manage risk for the most vulnerable children in the community.
• You must be able to demonstrate a detailed understanding of successful strategies to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
• Given the elements of the role, you will be a problem solver, confident about making important decisions, underpinned by a genuine passion to work collaboratively with children, young people and families.

What you need to know

• Please note that due to the nature of this role it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained for this post.
• You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel. Business insurance must be added to your current car insurance policy.
• Please state any preferred working patterns in your covering statement/application if you are seeking part time or reduced hours.

Interviews will be held week commencing 5th January 2026.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

We invest in the careers of our people and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps our people make the greatest long‑term difference in their work.

Staff are overwhelmingly positive about working for South Gloucestershire Council. Staff report feeling heard and responded to by senior leaders. Reduced workloads, increased stability of managers and more business support have strengthened their ability to respond to and improve the quality of practice for children. A wealth of concentrated training, including the Programme for Change initiative, has developed skill sets and expertise of staff. Staff benefit from a clear pathway of career progression, including a bespoke managers development programme.

A career at South Gloucestershire is an opportunity for you to progress when you are ready.

Any post can become any social worker grade, be it at initial recruitment or through internal progression, our current grades and salaries are:

• Social Worker £36,363 ‑ £39,152
• Advanced Social Worker £40,777 ‑ £44,075
• Senior Social Worker £45,091‑ £48,226

We have a fluid career progression programme and structure, what does this mean for you?

• You no longer need to wait for a vacancy to gain promotion.
• Apply for progression assessment when you are ready, no restrictions on application windows.
• Earn a higher income for your recognised experience.
• Gain promotion without needing to change teams, managers or employer – fast track your potential.
• Senior roles leading to both managerial or practice specialist careers.
• Gain experience in other teams with secondment opportunities encouraged.

These posts attract a gross lump sum £3,000 “recruitment payment” pro‑rate offered to enable Social Workers who have already successfully completed their ASYE to join our permanent workforce. This is payable upon successful completion of your probationary period (after approximately 3‑6 months) and is subject to eligibility criteria.

These posts are currently eligible for a market factor £3,000 “retention payment” pro‑rate, payable in November annually to those with two years’ service with the council in Children’s Social Care. In an eligible post, inclusive of any ASYE period.

We also provide up to £8,000 relocation package, flexible working and a suite of employee benefits including a generous annual leave entitlement, pension and Social Work England registration fees reimbursement.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We’re building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We’re working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life
• We’re investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.

We’ve achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference, be part of it!

To view the full job description, please click this link: Children’s Social Worker – Job Description