About Us
North Somerset Council is committed to providing high‑quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents; we are passionate about building connections with families and working restoratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
We are a small organisation, characterised by warmth, and we are all hugely committed to supporting each other to do the best we can for the community we serve, with the strong political and corporate support we need for children’s services.
We welcome passion, creativity, and diversity in our people. If you are as committed to relational, restorative practice as we are, we would love to meet you!
Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.
The Role
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Social Worker to join our Children’s Services – Initial Directions Team.
About the Role
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families? We are looking for a dedicated and skilled Children’s Assessment Social Worker to join our dynamic and supportive Initial Directions Team. This is a vital front‑line role where you will be the first point of contact for children and families in need of support and protection.
As part of our Children’s Services, you will carry out statutory assessments under the Children Act 1989, including Section 17 and Section 47 enquiries. You will work closely with families, schools, health professionals, and other agencies to assess risk, identify needs, and develop robust plans that promote the safety and well‑being of children.
Key Responsibilities
* Undertake timely and high‑quality family help assessments of children and families.
* Support families to make their own plans to increase safety and wellbeing for their children, using family network meetings.
* Make evidence‑based decisions to safeguard children and promote positive outcomes.
* Work collaboratively with multi‑agency partners to ensure coordinated support.
* Prepare clear, concise reports for child protection conferences, legal proceedings, and reviews.
* Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date case records using electronic systems.
* Participate in regular supervision and contribute to team development.
About You
We are seeking a qualified and registered social worker with experience in statutory children’s services. You will have a sound understanding of child development, safeguarding legislation, and assessment frameworks. You’ll be confident in managing risk, making decisions under pressure, and building effective relationships with children and families.
Essential Criteria
* Social Work qualification (Degree or Diploma)
* Registration with Social Work England
* Experience in child protection and statutory assessments
* Strong communication, analytical, and organisational skills
* Ability to work flexibly and manage competing priorities
Desirable Criteria
* Experience in court work and report writing
* Familiarity with Signs of Safety or similar strengths‑based approaches
* Knowledge of local authority procedures and systems
Work Style
At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated. In this role, we will expect you to spend 2‑3 days in the office each week. We will support you to work both from home and in the office, depending on the task at hand. We will support you to balance your work and life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in‑office days for collaboration.
What We Offer
We offer a comprehensive training programme to ensure you are equipped with the skills and knowledge you need to deliver the right help at the right time for children, young people, and families in North Somerset. Our Passport to Practice training programme provides practitioners with learning opportunities specially tailored to their individual development needs, that are aligned with our Building Connections practice model.
What’s more, if you are a senior social worker aspiring to step into a management role, North Somerset can offer you a leadership programme that’s been co‑created with Frontline for Children’s Services, and is available for all aspirant managers in social care and education roles! This is a first in the UK, and we are incredibly proud to be part of this amazing innovation.
At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:
* Competitive salary and benefits
* Flexible working arrangements
* Local Government Pension
* Opportunities for professional development
* Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
* Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
* Dedicated in‑house Wellbeing Team
* Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes
Important Information
As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role. We only accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and do not provide Sponsorship for this role.
Equal Opportunities
At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
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