Team: Emergency Duty Service
Base: County Hall, Exeter
Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week / Job share considered posts)
EDS roles also offer 20% unsocial hours allowance in addition to your base line salary
About the Children's Emergency Duty Service
In 2022, the Emergency Duty Service underwent a huge restructuring and went from being generic to 3 specialised teams, with the Children’s and Adult’s Services continuing to be closely aligned under one Service Manager.
The teams operate outside of office hours, supporting children in need and vulnerable adults, at times of crisis. We are currently looking for an Advanced Children’s Social Worker to join our passionate and dedicated team to further enhance our service delivery.
Our Children’s Emergency Duty Service (EDS) provides key responses to urgent out-of-hours contacts in respect of support and safeguarding for children, young people, and their families.
About the Role
The post holder must be able to work independently and within a team, and have a high standard of analytical, assessment, organisational and communication skills, as well as resilient.
The post holder will need to have the ability to prioritise referrals based on risk assessments and have the personal qualities to maintain the ability to make professional and sound decisions whilst working under pressure.
You will be a strong key team player, with a flexible attitude and commitment to the service.
The role will include working a rota pattern, covering evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays. At weekends, we are office based, working from County Hall in Exeter.
We are a small team made up of 3 fte family practitioners, 8 fte advanced social workers and 3fte team managers.
For all EDS roles we offer 20% unsocial hours allowance in addition to your base line salary
Skills and Experience
1. You will be a qualified and currently registered experienced Children’s Social Worker
2. You will have strong experience of working within a statutory children's social care setting
3. You will be forward-thinking with a restorative and solution focused approach to your social work practice
4. You will have robust understanding of levels of need and clear decision-making skills
5. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and effective communication in creating and maintaining positive relationships with partners
We can offer ongoing learning and development opportunities through our Social Work Academy, as well as Research in Practice and Community Care Inform membership
6. Working within our new Restorative Practice Framework with access to Restorative Coaches to enhance your social work practice -
7. Dedicated support with regular supervision from line management so you can critically reflect on your practice on a regular basis. Group supervisions are also offered, allowing you to learn from your colleagues and grow the strength of your social work practice together.
8. Clear career pathway aligned to the BASW . Secondments and opportunities are also available to help you progress in your career.
Ready to Make a Real Difference?
To find out more about working in our Children Looked After team or for further information on the role, please contact Children's Emergency Duty Service Team Manager Jo Harris for a friendly, informal chat:
Email:
Tel: 01392380766
The closing date for this vacancy is 30 September 2025. Apply early to avoid disappointment - the vacancy may close before this date if a sufficient number of applications are submitted.
Internal Applicants: Please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.
Please Note: At this time, we are only accepting applications from candidates who are currently residing in the UK and are unable to consider overseas applications.
About Children’s Social Care in Devon
There are many benefits to joining Devon County Council and in exchange for your dedication, skills and experience we can offer a number of employee benefits including:
9. Generous annual leave
10. Free onsite parking
11. Flexible working opportunities and promotion of a healthy work-life balance, including working from home where possible – Please visit for more information
12. Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee well-being services
13. Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
14. Discounts at over 900 national & local high street retailers through our benefits platform
15. Cycle to work scheme
16. Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
Additional Information
17. DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc. More information can be found on our
18. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment
19. This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English
20. Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the
21. This role requires a DBS disclosure
REQ008510 – Children’s Social Care