Children's Social Workers and Senior Social Workers

Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Various locations in Suffolk, Hybrid and Community based at Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU, Ipswich IP1 5PF, Lowestoft NR33 0EQ or Stowmarket IP14 1BB
• Salary: £38,510 - £48,607 per annum (pro rata for part time), plus, retention payment of up to £4,000 per year (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: Full time or part time hours available
• Contract: Permanent

Job roles available:

• Social Workers:£38,510 - £42,123 per annum, plus £4,000 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)
• Senior Social Workers:£42,872 - £48,607 per annum, plus £3,500 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)

Please see 'posts available' below for specific roles, teams and locations. Whilst applying you will be given the opportunity to specify which post/s you are applying for.

Suffolk County Council (SCC) is different. We are a modern, flexible, and forward-thinking organisation that's constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our communities.

We are also passionate about providing exceptional care and support to children and young people in need, and understand that to provide an outstanding service, our Social Workers need to be at their best. Here, you will find a supportive atmosphere designed to help you flourish professionally whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Join a profession that changes lives. As a social worker, you will be part of a regulated, highly skilled team making a positive impact every day. While supporting children and their families, you will help people find solutions, promote their rights, and empower them to thrive.

We value the unique experiences and dedication our Social Workers bring, and we are committed to sharing the real, positive stories of social work in our community.

Are you ready to reimagine what your social work career could be?

As a Social Worker with us, you will enjoy a dynamic work environment where your ideas are valued, your potential is nurtured, and your work makes a tangible difference.

• Hear from our staff about our Social Work teams.
• Find out more about Social Work within SCC Children and Young Peoples Services.

Shaping Careers and Learning

We understand that being a social worker can be a challenging role, which is why we offer:

• regular supervision sessions to provide guidance and assistance
• comprehensive training opportunities to boost your professional skills
• a structured career Progression Scheme to foster your growth. This way, you can be confident in your abilities and provide the best possible care to those in need.

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 which are open to staff, councillors and partners that share similar characteristics, life experiences, values and beliefs.

What 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.

Take a look at what makes our Ideal Worker (pdf), shaped by the voices of young people.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profiles below, if you believe you can succeed in this role, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Discover More

• A day in the life of a Children's Social Worker.
• Find out about our beautiful county of Suffolk and see what a wonderful place it is to live and work, please visit welcome to Suffolk.
• Further information on what we will offer you.
• Sponsorship for a visa may be available for current UK residents. This role is based in Suffolk.

Posts available

Opportunities are available across our Family Help, Next Steps and Parenting Together teams:

Social Worker Vacancies:

• Family Help North – Based at Riverside, Lowestoft
• Family Help South – Based at Beacon House, Ipswich and Felixstowe, Ipswich
• Family Help West – Based at West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds and The Mix, Stowmarket
• Next Steps South – Based at Beacon House, Ipswich

Senior Social Woker Vacancies:

• Family Help South – Based at Beacon House, Ipswich
• Family Help West – Based at West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds and The Mix, Stowmarket
• Next Steps West – Based at West Suffolk House, Ipswich
• Next Steps North – Based at Riverside, Lowestoft
• Parenting Together West – Based at West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds

Information about each team can be found in the ‘About the teams’ section below. Whilst applying you will be given the opportunity to specify which post/s you are applying for.

About the teams

Family Help Teams - Our Family Help Teams are multi-disciplinary teams of social workers and practitioners working together to improve outcomes for children, young people and families across Suffolk.

Next Steps Teams - Our Next Steps Teams support children in care from the age of 14, helping them prepare for leaving care and continuing to support them as young adults, up to the age of 25.

Parenting Together Teams - Our Parenting Together Teams support children in care and their families throughout their journey in care, until they are ready to transfer to our Next Steps Service.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are 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.

For more information

For a casual chat about the role/s, please either emailcypsocialworkenquiries@suffolk.gov.ukor contact Steve Blaney by calling 01502 674649.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile:

• Social Worker JPP (Word)
• Senior Social Worker JPP (Word)

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

Step 3 - Upload a CV (Curriculum Vitae) (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. Whilst applying you will be given the opportunity to specify which post/s you are applying for.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

For internal staff only, please complete our Statement of Interest (Word) and return this by emailing cypsocialworkenquiries@suffolk.gov.uk

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 30 November 2026

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

About us

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

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).