Applications are invited for a Social Worker within the Durham and Chester le Street Locality Team, temporary until 30 September 2026 subject to the return of the substantive postholder. WHAT IS INVOLVED? Are you a compassionate and dedicated Social Worker with a passion for helping adults? Durham County Council is seeking a motivated and empathetic Adult Social Worker to join our community-focused team. This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable adults and their families by promoting independence, dignity, and wellbeing. The post holder will be required to work 8.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am – 4.30pm on a Friday. About the role As an Adult Social Worker, you will be responsible for a caseload of clients with diverse and complex needs, including the elderly, individuals with physical health needs or older adults with mental health conditions. You will work within a supportive team to deliver person-centred and outcome-focused care. Key responsibilities Conduct comprehensive assessments of individuals and their carers to identify needs and develop personalised care plans. Provide emotional support, practical advice, and advocacy to empower service users to make informed decisions and live independently. Intervene in safeguarding cases and carry out enquiries to protect vulnerable adults from harm, abuse, or neglect, acting in their best interests. Work collaboratively with a wide range of agencies, including health services, housing, and the voluntary sector, to ensure integrated and holistic support. Effectively manage your workload, keeping accurate and detailed records using our electronic case management system. Stay up-to-date with relevant legislation, such as the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act, and apply this knowledge in practice. WHAT WILL I NEED? A recognised Social Work qualification (e.g., BA/BSc in Social Work or MA in Social Work). Current registration with Social Work England. Demonstrable experience working in an adult social care setting. Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Excellent organisational and time-management skills to manage a demanding caseload. The resilience to manage difficult and challenging situations. Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for travel within the borough. Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure. FURTHER INFORMATION If you are a passionate and experienced Social Worker who shares our commitment to making a positive difference, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Christine Morgan, Team Manager, email christine.morgan@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role. INTERVIEWS Interviews are expected to be held week beginning 27 October 2025. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran. OUR OFFER TO YOU We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process. HOW TO APPLY Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email recruitmentAHS@durham.gov.uk All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates. CONNECT WITH US Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Visit our website VPRS/161