Social Worker - Family Safeguarding Team (plus Welcome Payment of £6,000)

• Social_Worker_-_Family_Safeguarding_-_JDPS_Oct26
• Candidate_Pack_-_People_Directorate_-_Aug_2026
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• Two_Year_Retention_Payment_with_Welcome_Payment_-_CSC

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please include a personal statement with your CV specifying why you are applying for this vacancy.

Join our supportive Children’s Social Care team as a Social Worker, working directly with children and families to assess need, manage risk and achieve positive, lasting change. You will manage a varied caseload across Child in Need, Child Protection, care proceedings and Children Looked After, working collaboratively with families and multi-agency partners to develop effective safeguarding plans.

At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

This role includes an expectation to work from our Time Square office a minimum of 3 days per week, alongside flexible working arrangements.

To learn more about what it is like to work with us, take a look at our team's video

If you would like an informal chat or a tour of the office prior to submitting your application, please contact helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.ukto arrange a suitable time.

About you…

You must hold current registration with Social Work England and, where applicable, have successfully completed your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) within a statutory children’s social care setting. You will have post-qualifying experience in safeguarding children, including child protection work.

To be successful in this role, you will possess a strong working knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, policies and thresholds. You will have substantial experience of multi-agency working, collaborating effectively with partners, children and families to co-produce needs-led safety plans. You will demonstrate excellent written and recording skills, with the ability to complete high-quality assessments and reports within required timescales.

About the team…

Bracknell Forest Council have a nationally recognised practice model – the ‘Family Safeguarding Model’

Working collaboratively with families to keep them together, where it is safe to do so, is at the heart of the embedded Family Safeguarding Model, an approach which is underpinned by Motivational Interviewing (MI). This ensures families, children and young people feel empowered, and enables parents to make the positive changes needed, to achieve improved outcomes for their children and their own wellbeing.

We are a small, welcoming and friendly local authority where you will have the opportunity to build strong, positive and supportive working relationships with colleagues and peers. You will be a valued member of the team, where you will feel connected, appreciated, heard, accepted, included and supported.

Learn what OFSTED say about us here.

Read more about our culture and what our staff say Children's social care culture | Bracknell Forest Council.

Please note: Children's services are currently progressing its Families First transformation programme. This role may be subject to changes to its responsibilities, reporting arrangements and/or job description. Any proposed changes would be managed in accordance with the council's relevant consultation processes and policies.

Key responsibilities…

• Develop and implement effective safeguarding plans to protect children from harm.
• To work alongside other professionals as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• To manage a caseload of Child in Need, Child Protection, Care Proceedings and Children Looked After.
• To take part in the team duty system responding to concerns as and when they arise.
• To make effective use of time and be able to prioritise workload, ensuring timeliness in visiting, report writing and other deadlines.
• To participate in regular reflective supervision and be able to set clear goals and intervention strategies.
• To develop and maintain accurate case records and comply with the department's policies, procedures and guidelines including data protection and GDPR.

Our benefits…

• 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.

Our values...

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments...

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.

Disability confident and inclusive recruitment...

Bracknell Forest Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive employer. This means that if you tell us on your application form that you have a disability, are an armed forces veteran or are a care leaver, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Interview date

Shortlisting will be done on a weekly basis and interviews will be arranged a minimum of 7 days after this for suitable applicants.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and may close the advert early if we identify suitable candidates. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Helen Gore - Principal Social Worker

Helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current Social Care System and Framework.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.