Help children and young people stay safely in their communities We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Social Worker to join Dorset Council’s Keyworker Service within our Birth to Settled Adulthood (B2SA) team. In this role you will support children and young people aged 0–25 with autism and/or learning disabilities who are at risk of mental health hospital admission. You will work closely with families and professionals across health, education and social care to ensure the right support is in place at the right time, helping young people remain safely in their communities wherever possible. This role sits within Dorset’s integrated Birth to Settled Adulthood service, supporting disabled children and young people as they grow and transition into adulthood. It offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, multi-agency environment where your coordination and advocacy can make a real difference for families navigating complex systems. What you’ll be doing You will support children and young people identified on the Dynamic Support Register who require coordinated support to prevent hospital admission or enable safe discharge. You will build strong relationships with families, act as a consistent point of contact, and work alongside professionals across services to develop personalised plans that respond to changing needs. You will also contribute to Care, Education and Treatment Reviews (CETRs), help unblock barriers across services, and play a role in strengthening how systems work together to support children and young people with complex needs. About you You will be a qualified and registered Social Worker with experience supporting children and young people with complex needs, including autism and learning disabilities. You will be confident working across organisational boundaries, able to build trusting relationships with families and professionals, and motivated by the opportunity to improve outcomes for children and young people with complex needs. What’s in it for you You will join a supportive and collaborative service focused on improving outcomes for children and young people with complex needs. This role offers the opportunity to work within Dorset’s integrated Birth to Settled Adulthood model, alongside professionals across health, education and social care. You will also have access to professional development opportunities and the chance to take part in national and regional Keyworker Communities of Practice, connecting with practitioners delivering similar work across the country. Further Information This vacancy is for West Dorset, with occasional travel across the county. For an informal conversation please contact Ceri David, Area Practice Manager, [email protected] This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders. About Us At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video: Unable to show this video due to your cookie preferences At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future. We: provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents work in partnership to make a real difference value every role and the impact it has on our communities support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive You will: be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset have access to a range of benefits and support receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application. This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement. If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us. Find out more about how to apply.