Social Worker

Social Worker – Family Safeguarding Team | £48,295–£50,454 + £6,000 Welcome Payment

Bracknell Forest Council is recruiting a Social Worker for its Family Safeguarding Team in Bracknell, offering a salary of up to £50,454 per year plus a £6,000 welcome payment.

This full-time opportunity is suited to experienced children’s social workers with safeguarding and child protection experience who want to work in a supportive local authority with hybrid working arrangements.

Job Overview

• Job Title: Social Worker – Family Safeguarding Team
• Employer: Bracknell Forest Council
• Salary: £48,295–£50,454 per year
• Welcome Payment: £6,000, subject to the applicable terms and conditions
• Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, England
• Contract: Full-time
• Working Pattern: Hybrid, with a minimum of three days per week in the Time Square office
• Job Category: Children’s Social Care
• Visa Sponsorship: Sponsorship is not guaranteed. Applicants must currently reside in the UK, and sponsorship requests will be assessed individually against eligibility criteria and budget limitations.
• Closing Date: The advert states that it may close early when suitable candidates are identified. Check the official application page for the current deadline.
• Reference: Not stated in the supplied advert.

About the Role

Bracknell Forest Council is looking for a Social Worker to join its Children’s Social Care team, supporting children and families to achieve positive and lasting change.

You will assess children’s needs, manage risks and develop effective safeguarding plans while working collaboratively with families and professionals from different agencies.

Your caseload will include Child in Need, Child Protection, care proceedings and Children Looked After cases. You will also participate in the team’s duty system, responding to concerns as they arise.

The council offers a supportive working environment, flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development. The role requires attendance at the Time Square office for at least three days each week.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement safeguarding plans to protect children from harm.
• Manage a varied caseload involving Child in Need, Child Protection, care proceedings and Children Looked After.
• Work collaboratively with children, families and professionals across multiple agencies.
• Participate in the team duty system and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Prioritise workloads and complete visits, assessments, reports and other tasks within required timescales.
• Participate in regular reflective supervision and establish clear goals and intervention strategies.
• Maintain accurate case records in accordance with departmental policies, procedures and data protection requirements, including GDPR.
• Support families to make positive changes and achieve improved outcomes for children.

Essential Requirements

Applicants must meet the role’s professional and experience requirements, including:

• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Successful completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) within a statutory children’s social care setting, where applicable.
• Post-qualifying experience in children’s safeguarding, including child protection work.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, policies and safeguarding thresholds.
• Substantial experience of multi-agency working.
• The ability to work collaboratively with children and families to develop needs-led safety plans.
• Excellent written communication, recording, assessment and report-writing skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and meet statutory deadlines.

Candidates should also be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current social care system and framework.

About the Family Safeguarding Team

Bracknell Forest Council uses a nationally recognised Family Safeguarding Model, which focuses on working with families to keep them together wherever it is safe to do so.

The approach is underpinned by Motivational Interviewing, helping parents make positive changes while improving outcomes for children and supporting family wellbeing.

You will join a welcoming team that values collaboration, reflective practice and supportive working relationships. The council promotes an inclusive culture where employees are encouraged to learn, develop and contribute to better outcomes for local families.

The council is also progressing its Families First transformation programme. The responsibilities, reporting arrangements or job description for this role may change as part of that programme, with any proposed changes managed through the council’s relevant consultation processes and policies.

Salary and Welcome Payment

The advertised salary is £48,295–£50,454 per year, with an additional £6,000 welcome payment.

The council has also provided a separate document outlining a two-year retention payment arrangement for Children’s Social Care. Applicants should review the official welcome payment and retention payment terms to understand the applicable eligibility conditions and any associated requirements.

Employee Benefits

Bracknell Forest Council offers a range of benefits, including:

• 28 days of annual leave, increasing to 33 days after three years of continuous service.
• The option to buy up to 10 additional days of annual leave and sell up to five days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support work-life balance.
• Local Government Pension Scheme membership and life insurance cover.
• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration fees.
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• An employee volunteering scheme.
• An Employee Assistance Programme to support health and wellbeing.
• An electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, subject to eligibility.
• Recognition of continuous service with the NHS and UKHSA when calculating certain benefits, subject to the applicable terms.
• Staff networks, a sports and social club, and an inclusive working environment.

Visa Sponsorship and Right to Work

The council states that applications are only accepted from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates who currently live in the UK and require sponsorship may assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). However, sponsorship is not guaranteed. Availability depends on the relevant eligibility requirements and budget limitations, and requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants should confirm their individual eligibility and the availability of sponsorship directly with the employer before applying.

Application and Selection Process

Applications must be submitted online through the official recruitment page.

Applicants are required to submit a CV and a personal statement explaining why they are applying for the vacancy. Make sure your statement demonstrates how your qualifications, statutory children’s social care experience, safeguarding knowledge and relevant skills meet the person specification.

Shortlisting takes place weekly, and interviews for suitable candidates are arranged at least seven days after shortlisting. Interviews will be conducted in person.

The council reviews applications regularly and may close the vacancy early if suitable candidates are identified. Early application is therefore recommended.

Important: The employer states that the use of AI during the interview is prohibited. Candidates who use AI during the interview will be withdrawn from consideration.

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of the pre-employment process.

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

The council is a Disability Confident Leader. Applicants who declare a disability, armed forces veteran status or care leaver status on their application will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria in the person specification.

Applicants who require reasonable adjustments during recruitment can contact the recruitment team for assistance.

For an informal discussion or to arrange an office visit before applying, contact Helen Gore, Principal Social Worker, at helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

How to Apply

To apply for the Social Worker – Family Safeguarding Team vacancy, visit the official recruitment website, review the job description and candidate pack, and submit your CV alongside a personal statement explaining your suitability for the role.