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What will you be doing?

Looking to develop your best practice?

We are the right team, at the right time and in the right place.

About you

Professionally registered with a degree in social work – CQSW, DipSW or equivalent – you will have a variety of post-qualification experience of working with children and families. Your experience should cover systemic practice, and you will need an in-depth understanding of legislative and policy frameworks.

Along with a willingness to learn and develop as a practitioner, being a team player is essential in any social work team. You will build relationships with colleagues, as well as statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies.

If you share this vision of excellent Social Work practice, we want to hear from you.

Rewards

In return for helping us achieve our aims, there is a strong commitment to supporting your professional development. As a qualified Social Worker we know that you want to make a difference and working at Kent County Council you will be given every support and opportunity to do so.

We offer an attractive benefits package and a commitment to ensuring that you achieve a healthy work life balance with flexible working arrangements and an emphasis on health and well-being.

About us

The right team

Doing the best for the children of Kent is a team effort and we’ve worked hard to create a culture that fosters excellence and collaboration – a place where social workers are empowered to be creative, share ideas and advice.

The right team needs the right managers. Ours have a well-deserved reputation for being supportive through regular, quality supervision. We also have a number of credible expert practitioners to learn from and you will find them approachable and keen to help. Sharing knowledge is part of who we are. Together, our teams deliver strengthened services and improved outcomes for children.

An integral part of re-thinking the way we work remotely is support for YOU going forward. Here you'll find the assistance, guidance and training available for all colleagues and managers to enable you to make flexible working work for you, your team and your service.

The right time

There has never been a better time to join us. We continue to invest in every part of our service, and in the careers of talented people who share our passion for making a real difference to the lives of young people in Kent.

The right place

We are proud to have received an overall Ofsted rating of ‘good’, with an ‘outstanding’ judgement for ‘The experiences and progress of children in care'. We are also honoured to have been recognised for the fact that ‘Children remain at the core of a strong, and often exceptional, service in Kent’ (Ofsted 2025). As one of the largest Children’s Social Work Service in the country, we offer a comprehensive learning and development framework across Kent. Recognising that a one-size fits all approach is not effective, we provide development opportunities that can be tailored to meet individual, and team needs.

Kent is a large and diverse county, offering a broad range of opportunities to support children and young people from all backgrounds and circumstances. We are able to offer you a variety of work, including being able to work across a range of locations and environments, as well as having the option to be seconded to or move to other teams.

We place great importance on professional development that enables you to grow your skills and knowledge to manage a varied caseload. There will be new challenges and opportunities with case work and as part of the wider organisation, e.g. developing specialist links with partner agencies and representing Children’s Services in court.

Acting as a role model and mentor to less experienced colleagues, you will contribute to training initiatives, and, proactively maintaining your awareness of changes in child development theories, legislation, policies and practices, you will share your knowledge and uphold high standards of social work.

Transport

Whilst we foster a hybrid working approach, the role requires you to be mobile throughout a wide operational area including travelling around the county of Kent and beyond to transport children and their belongings and be available to do so in an emergency.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

Benefits

A competitive starting salary, including an annual market premium payment of up to £5,000 subject to eligibility.

A supportive team working environment with regular supervision.

Access to a wide range of formal and informal CPD activities underpinned by a performance appraisal scheme and career progression pathway.

An annual appraisal linking your learning and development needs.

Generous annual leave allowance.

Local Government pension scheme.

Access to smarter working / flexible working.

Relocation Package.

You will also have a range of professional development opportunities including the exciting social care academy and routes for progression.

Eligibility

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and up to date registration with the appropriate professional body as a qualified Social Worker.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis. Please do not re-apply if you have been interviewed for this post in the last six months.

About you

To find out more about the role please get in touch today by emailing socialcarerecruitment@hrconnect.org.uk or calling us on 0331 6309541.

About us

Work that works for you and us - let’s talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county’s working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.