Job reference VAC008258
Date posted 14/05/2026
Application closing date 08/06/2026
Location: B Bond - West Wing Smeaton Road Hotwells Bristol BS1 6XN
Salary: BG12: £42,839 – £46,142 ; BG13: £47,181 – £50,269
Contractual hours: 37
Full time
About the Service
The Disabled Children Service supports children and young people aged 0–18 with a wide range of disabilities. Our practice is child‑centred and strength‑based, recognising each child as an individual with their own voice, rights, and aspirations.
Our Short Breaks Service benefits from consistent wrap‑around support from experienced managers committed to staff development and wellbeing. We work collaboratively with families and partner agencies to deliver high‑quality Child in Need plans for children accessing overnight short breaks, promoting inclusion, safety, and positive outcomes.
Our office in Hotwells provides a dedicated, accessible workspace. As an office‑based team, we value the connection, stability, and collaborative culture this brings, enabling reflective practice, strong team relationships, and day‑to‑day peer support.
About Bristol
Bristol is a diverse, vibrant city with strong communities and a longstanding commitment to equality and social justice. Our Disabled Children Service is proud to reflect the diversity of the city we serve, working respectfully and inclusively with families from a wide range of backgrounds and identities.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Social Worker to join our Review and Reassessment Team. You will manage a caseload of children and young people with varied disabilities and support needs who access an overnight short break. Your duties will include undertaking statutory social work in line with legislation and local procedures. You will also provide monthly supervision and case support to two Child in Need Keyworkers within the team.
Key Responsibilities
* Completing child and family assessments
* Working with children in need who are in receipt of overnight short breaks
* Undertaking child protection work if concerns arise for a child already open to the team
* Developing, reviewing, and evaluating care and support plans
* Working collaboratively with families, schools, health colleagues, and partner agencies
* Promoting inclusive, anti‑oppressive, rights‑based practice
* Contributing to a supportive, reflective team culture
* Supervising and supporting two Child in Need Keyworkers
* Ensuring statutory timescales for assessments, visits, and reviews are met
* Ensuring work with disabled children and families is meaningful, proportionate, and effective
About You
* Be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England
* Have experience working with children and families
* Have experience working with or supporting disabled children
* Be committed to strengths‑based, inclusive practice
* Communicate respectfully and effectively with children, young people, and families
* Be organised, reflective, and able to manage competing priorities
What We Offer
* Generous rewards package: competitive pay, an exceptional Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance.
* Unrivalled career development: innovative training and progression programme tailored for social workers.
* Regular supervision and strong management support.
* Supportive team environment that values reflective practice.
Practice Frameworks and Approaches
* Signs of Safety – our framework for assessing and responding to harm
* Systemic Practice – supporting understanding of complexity in children’s and families’ lives
* Relationship‑Based Practice – strengthening relationships and social connectedness
* Contextual Safeguarding – assessing and responding to harm outside the family context
Salary: Social Worker (BG12): £42,839 – £46,142, Senior Social Worker (BG13): £47,181 – £50,269. Please make it clear what role you are applying for in your application form.
Note: This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check. At this time we are not offering sponsorship for this position.
We are a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We will make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.
Equal Opportunities
Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black and racially minoritised, Disabled, LGBTQ+ and Male candidates who are currently under‑represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.
Contact
For further details, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification, or contact Hannah.Dancey@bristol.gov.uk
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