Principal Social Worker - Adult Social Care

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Social Worker (PSW) to join the Adult Social Care team at Reading Borough Council. In this pivotal role, you will lead the delivery of high-quality social care, ensuring the best outcomes for individuals through strengths-based assessments.

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.

We support hybrid working, it's important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you'll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle with a mixture of home working and access to an office based in the centre of Reading.

About the Role:

We are looking for an inspirational, innovative anddedicated leader with significant knowledge and expertise in the practice and delivery of social work for adults. As the Principal Social Worker, you will have a strong commitment to supporting the life that matter to you - Reading's Adult Social Cares vision. At Reading we strive for excellence, we have an ambitious experienced leadership team who value the critical role of the Principal Social Worker.

As our Principal Social Worker you will provide leadership and professional support to social workers and be responsible for the development ofsocial work practice and practice systems, promoting best practice which positively supportspractitioners and the Council to meet the needs of people who draw on care and support in Reading.

You will work closely with senior leaders, frontline teams, and key stakeholders to develop policy, improve standards, and support social workers in their professional development.

Key areas of the role are ensuring best practice, scrutiny and assurance, reporting to the Deputy Director, as well as meeting regularly with the Executive Director for Communities and Adult Social Care.

About You:

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A Social Work England registration and a recognised Social Work qualification.
• Extensive experience in Adult Social Care, with a strong track record in leadership and practice improvement.
• Excellent knowledge of relevant legislation, policy, and best practice in social work.
• Strong influencing, communication, and partnership-working skills.
• A commitment to embedding strengths-based, person-centred practice to achieve positive outcomes.

We offer excellent support, supervision and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new clinical skills, helping you to build your Continuing Professional Development portfolio, extending your skills and supporting you to grow as a Social Worker.

As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you'll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you'll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• Maternity, adoption, parental and sick pay
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Access to a range of training and learning opportunities to help you develop
• 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, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees
• 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, servicing and road tax
• Salary sacrifice scheme for Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to help you save for your retirement

If you would like to find out more about this role and the team please contact Jo Purser (Deputy Director - Safeguarding, Quality & Practice) Jo.purser@reading.gov.uk

Closing date: Sunday 3rd August 2025
Interview date: Friday 15th August 2025

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.