Social Worker - Together for Families Team

Reading Borough Council; Normanton on Trent; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS

Life Assurance - 3x salary

Lease car salary sacrifice

Season Ticket Loan

On-site day nursery

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking a Social Worker for the Together for Families Team in Reading. You will manage a diverse caseload, perform child-centred assessments, and contribute to safeguarding children through the Family Saf safeguarding model.

The role offers a hybrid working pattern with strong supervision and development opportunities. The position requires a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England, with experience in child in need, child protection, and court work.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experience working with children and families is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Hold and manage a varied caseload with reflective supervision and support.
• Undertake child-centred assessments using the Family Safeguarding model and support for CIN/CP/court work.
• Make ongoing risk assessments to safeguard children.
• Prepare and present reports for decision making and chair CIN/Core group meetings.
• Collaborate with partner agencies to ensure timely support for families.
• Work with legal colleagues, attend PLO meetings and give evidence in court.

Skills

Social Worker

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

Salary £47,152 - £52,075 per year (Includes an £8,000 market Supplement)

Basis Full time

Job profile for Social Worker - Together for Families Team

Social Worker - Together for Families Team

Reading 22/11/2026

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Salary £47,152 - £52,075 per year (Includes an £8,000 market Supplement)

Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time

Region Permanent / Full-Time Job category/type Children's Services, Social Work/Care Date posted 28/10/2026 Job reference DOC0031 Attachments Social Worker JD.pdf

Job description

This positions requires 3 days in the office a week.

“We are going places — join us on the journey of possibility.”

Champion Children. Empower Families. Shape Brighter Futures.

Do you have a passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of children? Are you looking for a place where you can truly shape the life chances of children and young people? Are you a committed social worker ready to bring your energy, purpose and creativity to a team driven by doingwhat’sright for families?

If yes, then join us in Reading, whereour Togetherfor Familiesteamsplaysa vital role in safeguarding children and supporting families when they need us most.The work of the Together for Families teams spans child in need, child protection, and court work, and through a varied caseload you will be actively encouraged and supported to develop your professional skills.

Weare implementing theFamily Safeguarding Modeland Motivational Interviewingfocusing on strengths,relationshipsand purposeful partnership with families. We believe that with the right support, families can overcome challenges and thrive — and you will be central to that journey.

Our framework is built on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement, with children firmly at the centre of everything we do. By fostering strong partnerships with schools, health professionals, social careteamsand the voluntary sector, we strive for a coordinated,response and inclusive system of support.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the Role

You will need to be a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England.As a Social Worker in ourTogether for Families Team, you will:

• Hold and manage a varied and dynamic caseload with reflective supervision and strong professional support

• Undertake child-centred,timelyassessments using the Family Safeguarding practice model, supporting families at Children in Need, Child Protection and whererequiredinto court.

• Make ongoing assessments ofallocatedcases to reflect individual circumstances including assessment of risk, and the need to ensure that service users are protected from significant harm.

• Prepare and present reports as necessary tofacilitatedecision making about service users and to provide effective quality assuranceand chairCIN and Core group meetings

• Work directly with children, young people and families toidentifystrengths,understandriskand shape effective interventionplansanddeliver evidence-based interventions in response toidentifiedneeds asrequired.

• Collaborate with partner agencies to ensure families receive the right help at the right time

• Work closely with colleagues in legal, attending PLO meetings and give evidence in court.

• Make sound, evidence-based decisions that support children’s safety,wellbeingand long-term outcomes

You will report directly to a Team Manager, receive regular individual and group supervision, and be supported to develop your skills and confidence at every stage of your career.

Why Join Reading’sTogether for FamiliesTeam?

Based in the city centre’s Civic Offices, our Assessment Team works closely with the Single Point of Access service, guided by a shared ethos: getting it right first time and keeping children at the centre.

This is a dynamic, city-wide service where social workersoperatein a fast-paced environment with:

• High levelsof support

• Regular reflective supervision

• Visible, approachable managers

• Agile working for greater flexibility

This is an exciting time to join Reading. We areimplementingthe Family Safeguarding Model, investing in motivationalinterviewingand building on strong early help foundations recognised by Ofsted in 2024:

• “Children and their families are helped by a range of impressive and impactful early help services... reducing children’s need for statutory intervention.”

• “Children are supported to remain within their family and friends’ network when it is safe... enabling them to maintain connections with people who are familiar to them.”

• “Family help assessments are comprehensive and demonstrate curious and insightful work with families.”

And we are not stopping here — by March 2025, Reading will have four Family Hubs, strengthening our local offer even further.

We are a vibrant, motivated service with genuine energy and ambition. We value curiosity,creativityand relationship-based practice — and we make space for social workers to do theirvery bestwork.

Our Story: About Reading

Reading is a vibrant town in Berkshire, England, known for its rich history and dynamic modern character. Once a medieval hub with its famous abbey founded by Henry I, it has grown into a thriving centre for business, culture, and education.

The River Thames and River Kennet weave through the town, offering scenic walks and a sense of calm amid urban life. Reading is celebrated for its annual music festival, one of the UK’s most iconic, which draws visitors from across the globe.

With a blend of historic landmarks, bustling shopping districts, and green spaces, Reading embodies both heritage and progress, making it a place where tradition meets innovation. With 24.2% of our residents aged 0–19, Reading is a community where children and young people are at the heart of local identity.

Our Offer to You

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambitionisstrongly encouraged, andyou’llget a great feeling for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

• A warm, inclusive team committed to doingwhat’sright for children

• Competitive pay and conditions, including hybrid working

• A rich practice development programme

• Access to training in the Family Safeguarding Model

• Reflective supervision prioritising wellbeing and professional resilience

• A comprehensive wellbeing and workforce offer supporting you emotionally,practicallyand professionally

In Reading, children matter — and so do you.

We are building a culture where social workers feel valued, trusted and supported to reach their full potential.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with theoptionto buyadditionalleave

• A wide range of flexibile working opportunities

• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)

• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted

• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work

• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance,servicingand road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact [e-mail]

Closing Date: Sunday 22nd November 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed