Application Deadline: 8 December 2025
Department: Childrens Services
Location: Torbay Council
Compensation: £47,181 - £50,269 / year
Description
An exciting opportunity exists for the role of Advanced Social Worker in Operational Services.
We are seeking to appoint individuals who are highly motivated to safeguarding children at risk. We are a service committed to putting the safety of children at the centre of everything we do. To be successful in this role you will need be tenacious and passionate about this area of work.
The role will involve managing complex caseloads, and helping to establish a restorative practice led culture of continual improvement and quality assurance. As the Advanced Social Worker in your team, you will be the lead on ensuring compliance, practice and performance standards are maintained to the highest level. You will lead by example and work with social workers with varying experience from newly qualified upwards. You will also provide supervision and be expected to participate in specialist project work across the whole service.
This is an exciting but challenging role that should be seen as a step towards management opportunities in the future. In return for your commitment and hard work, Torbay will support you with relevant training and development opportunities delivered via its new Learning Academy.
We are committed to a restorative and relational model of working ‘WITH’ our children and young people so they remain at the heart of our practice. Restorative and relational based practice describes a way of being, an underpinning ethos, which enables us to build and maintain healthy relationships, resolve difficulties and repair harm when relationships breakdown.
PLEASE ONLY APPLY IF YOU ARE A QUALIFIED SOCIAL WORKER, WITH A CURRENT SWE REGISTRATION.
Person Specification
This post meets the requirements for an Enhanced Criminal Record Check. This will show spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions which have not been filtered in line with legislation, plus any information held by local Police that is considered relevant to the role.
If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/advanced-social-worker-4/
For an informal chat please contact Kathryn Morley on 01803208964 or kathryn.morley@torbay.gov.uk.
Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 15th December 2025.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.
Skills
Essential:
* Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
* Ability to demonstrate skills in mediation, negotiation and problem solving.
* Able to assess situations with clarity and sensitivity and act professionally in crisis situations.
* Ability to work in an open and challenging way with families.
* Ability to mentor others that upholds and promotes the ethical principles and values that guide professional practice and thereby ensures compliance with policies.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Knowledge
Essential:
* Good understanding of the full range of activities delivered by the Authority and partners in relation to children, young people and families.
* Has a developed knowledge of Social Care policies and procedures, and makes themselves continually aware of new Child Care legislation and National Guidance.
* Awareness of effective management practices.
* Thorough understanding of current legislation and guidance and developments in services to children young people and families.
* Demonstrates an advanced and detailed knowledge of child development, attachment theory, anti discriminatory practice, the Framework for assessment of children in needs and their families, social work theory and methods.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential:
* Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience of working with children and families in the context of current legislation and government initiatives.
* Two years post qualification experience of working in a local authority setting.
* For Social work professionals, experience of complex Child Protection cases and Court proceedings under the Children’s Act 1989.
* Evidence of having delivered improved outcomes and impact for children and young people.
* Understanding and experience of performance monitoring and performance management techniques to drive service improvement.
* Experience of managing or supporting others and assuring compliance to policy and procedures.
#J-18808-Ljbffr