Newly Qualified Social Worker

To start: 7th September 2026

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents.

Last year, we launched our Social Care Academy to provide meaningful support to newly qualified social workers in their first year of practice. Our first cohort of newly qualified social workers have told us that they feel really well supported and that the learning offered to them in our Academy has enabled them to learn and grow.

We would love to support you to be the best social worker you can be, to build relationships with children, young people, and families, and make a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking newly qualified social workers to join our Social Care Academy. In our Academy, you will undertake your assessed and supported year in employment in a supported and scaffolded learning environment, and develop the skills you need to join a social work team when you are ready. We know that individuals learn in different ways, and that’s why your development plan will be individualised to your unique learning needs. You will be supported by the Academy Manager, and a dedicated Practice Educator to support your ongoing assessment, and you will be assigned a destination team that you will work in, alongside the Academy, to join fully when the time is right for you. There are opportunities in all our teams across Children’s Services, and we will ask your preferences before you join us, to do our very best to match you to the team you want.

In the Academy, we will equip you with a working knowledge of our “Building Connections” practice approach, based on relational, restorative, trauma-informed practice. We will offer you regular learning & development sessions on key areas of practice, an experienced buddy in your destination team to shadow who will support you, and lots of opportunities to spend time with all our teams, to understand all stages of a child’s journey with us.

If you are committed to relationship-based, family led practice, and would like to undertake your first year of practice in a supportive, reflective learning environment, we’d love to hear from you!

We are particularly keen to recruit from Black and racially minoritised newly qualified social workers as we want our workforce to better represent our community. Academy staff have experience of providing individualised support and are fully committed to allow the staff we support to bring their full authentic selves to work.

If you are shortlisted for our Assessment Day, we will contact you on Friday 15th May to let you know.

We will be holding our NQSW Assessment Day on Thursday 21st May, at the Town Hall in Weston-Super-Mare, so keep this date free!

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or an alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment, so you can work flexibly, at home and in the office. Please note that during the induction period, we’ will expect you to spend more time in the office to get to know your colleagues, and support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style.

As this role falls into the category of Flexible Worker, this means you can expect to work in the following way after the initial induction period:

• 2-3 days in the office
• Work both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• You will be expected in the office for team meetings, supervision and reflective learning sessions.
• Training is available to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

You must possess the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Social Work Qualification, or pending completion of qualification.
• Registration with Social Work England, or eligible for registration after graduating
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Be able to create effective working relationships with families and professionals
• Commitment to relational, trauma-informed practice.

Desirable Criteria:

• Have had a social work placement in a statutory setting
• Experience of working in a multi-agency environment

What We Offer

Our Social Work Academy provides robust support and training in your first year as a Social Worker. Our Academy model has been recognised and praised by Skills for Care and supports Social Workers through a Secure Base Model, to ensure that practitioners are psychologically safe and as such, can ask questions, make mistakes, learn, and thrive, and achieve their fullest potential as relational, trauma-informed social workers. You will start your year within the Academy, linked to your ‘destination team’, and you will gradually increase your time in this team, in line with your skills, knowledge and confidence.

In addition, at North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days’ annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and valuesand are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Melanie Holt, Academy Manager at melanie.holt@n-somerset.gov.uk or 07386 963301.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Assessment Centre Date: Thursday 21st May

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.