Social Worker – Children & Families
“Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.”
Plymouth City Council is looking for qualified social workers to join our Families First Partnership teams. This is a great time to join us in Plymouth where exciting things are happening. We are developing Families First Partnership approaches with our partners to ensure children and families have the help and support they need to be safe, happy and thrive.
Who We’re Looking For
* Committed to high‑quality practice and safeguarding.
* Value collaboration, honesty, and continuous learning.
* Compassionate, curious, and action oriented.
* Want to be part of a team that supports each other and puts children, young people and their families first.
The role
We are at a crucial point in our implementation of the Families First Partnership programme of children’s social care reforms and are looking for Social Workers to be part of new teams working in a multi‑disciplinary way, moving towards locality working alongside partner agencies. As a Social Worker in Plymouth, you will join a friendly, dedicated, talented and passionate team of social workers, family help practitioners, social work assistants and students who value getting things right for children and their families through our trauma‑informed, restorative and strengths‑based practice approach.
You will be at the heart of keeping children and young people safe, using creative family‑led approaches to help families stay together, and ensuring high‑quality protection, care and planning when it is needed. Your responsibilities include:
* Build meaningful relationships with children, young people and their families.
* Carry out thorough and timely assessments to understand needs and risks and inform effective intervention plans.
* Make decisions that put children’s best interests first.
* Advocate for children and young people, including care leavers.
* Work collaboratively with professionals across sectors.
* Contribute to our practice improvement and embed best practice.
* Champion trauma‑informed, strengths‑based and restorative practice.
The ’10 Wishes’ developed by our children and young people are embedded across our partnership as part of our commitment to listening to children’s voices and acting in response to what they tell us. You will be able to demonstrate evidence of your commitment to the voice of children and families.
Why Work in Plymouth?
Plymouth is a city of ambition, compassion and progress. Our latest Ofsted Inspection (January 2024) recognised significant progress and highlighted multiple areas of strength, including:
* Timely child protection work: Improved understanding of risk and early support prevents drift or delay.
* Strong relationships: Social workers know the children they work with, build trust, and advocate for them.
* Corporate parenting culture: Senior leaders and elected members are committed to looked‑after children and care leavers.
* Support for early career staff: Our ASYE programme and Children Services Learning Academy offer robust support and continued professional development throughout your career.
* Care leaver progress: Ofsted praised our ambition and support for care‑experienced young people aged 16–25.
What We Offer
When you join us, you’ll be part of a service that values you not just for what you can do, but for who you are and what you could become. Our offer includes:
* Full reimbursement of Social Work England registration fees.
* Excellent learning and development opportunities from our Children’s Services Learning Academy.
* Supportive team working and strong supervision and leadership support.
* Flexible working arrangements, including remote options.
* Access to a Local Government Pension Scheme and employee wellbeing services.
* Discounts, salary sacrifice schemes, and more via iCHOOSE.
* Relocation package up to £8,000.
Living and Working in Plymouth
* Coastal beauty, Dartmoor nearby, beaches and green spaces.
* A lively university city with arts, culture and maritime heritage.
* Affordable living compared to larger cities.
* Strong partnerships and visible impact in children’s services.
* A commitment to fairness, inclusion, wellbeing and leadership.
Ready to Apply?
Visit our PCC Vacancies page to apply and tell us how your experience, values, and vision can help Plymouth’s children and young people to be happy, safe and thrive.
We are proud to offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who meet essential criteria and are disabled, care‑experienced, or Armed Forces Service Leavers (within the last two years).
As an inclusive employer, 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. If you need any reasonable adjustments, please let us know.
We are a flexible employer and provide a variety of working arrangements tailored to the needs of each role.
The Disclosure & Barring Service Check requirement for this post is: Enhanced, Check + DBS Children’s & Adult’s Barred List.
If you would like a conversation please email abrightfuture@plymouth.gov.uk
Closing date: Tuesday 27 January 2026
Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marri. age/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation. As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.
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