Outstanding Children’s Services | Leading Families First Practice. If you want to practise social work where relationships come before process, Dorset offers that environment.
Dorset Council is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with inspectors recognising strong and stable leadership, a confident workforce and children receiving timely help that makes a meaningful difference. Practitioners told Ofsted they feel valued, supervision is reflective and leaders understand frontline practice.
We helped shape the national Families First model and are now fully embedding this approach across our services. For you, that means clearer pathways for families, fewer hand-offs and strong multi-agency safeguarding built into the structure of our teams.
This Is Social Work Focused On Impact, Not Unnecessary Bureaucracy. As a Family Help Social Worker, You Will Work Across The Continuum Of Need, Including:
- Targeted early help
- Child in Need
- Child Protection
- Pre-proceedings and court work
You will be part of an integrated locality team, working alongside our Multi-Agency Child Protection Team and Lead Child Protection Practitioners to ensure children are safeguarded while families are supported to create sustainable change.
Our Safeguarding Families Together teams are embedded in every locality. Domestic abuse, mental health, substance misuse and perpetrator specialists work alongside social workers to strengthen plans and reduce risk. You will work closely with trusted colleagues across disciplines to provide the right support at the right time, responding to the different needs of children and families in a joined-up and practical way.
You Will:
- deliver assessments that lead to clear and measurable change
- ensure children’s lived experience shapes analysis and planning
- build purposeful relationships with families
- work restoratively and provide constructive challenge when required
- prepare high-quality reports for court
- contribute to multi-agency decision making that progresses plans
- engage in reflective supervision and continuous development
About You
- You will hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
- If newly qualified, you will join our structured and well-supported ASYE programme.
- If experienced, you will demonstrate confident statutory practice, clear risk analysis, experience of child protection planning and court work, and the ability to balance support with professional challenge.
- Professional judgement is respected within a clear safeguarding framework. We are looking for practitioners who are thoughtful, accountable and committed to improving outcomes for children.
- A driving licence and access to a vehicle are required due to the travel demands of the role.
- Flexible working will be considered.
- A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available where there is demonstrable UK local authority experience.
Why join Dorset
Children in Dorset benefit from stable relationships and consistent practitioners. Leaders are visible and accessible. Supervision is regular and reflective. We invest in your progression, with a clear pathway from Level 1 through to Experienced Social Worker, Advanced Practitioner and Team Manager. Training includes restorative practice, motivational interviewing and specialist assessment development.
Find out more about working in Childrens Social Care at Dorset Council.
Our localities
We Operate Across Four Localities:
- Chesil covering Weymouth and Portland
- East Dorset and Purbeck
- Dorchester and West Dorset
- North Dorset
Each locality has strong team identity and close multi-agency working, set within Dorset’s coastline, countryside and market towns.
Please indicate your preferred locality in your application.
Further Information
Salary includes additional labour market increments (LMI's) which are awarded on a temporary basis and are subject to regular (usually bi- annual) review in accordance with our labour market adjustment scheme. LMI's can be subject to change with due notice and with time limited protections if a review results in amendment or withdrawal.
We have a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available and are able to offer visa sponsorship where required, subject to eligibility and Home Office requirements. Candidates should have either some UK social work practice experience or have UK training.
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.
See our policy on safeguarding children and young people. See the children’s social worker framework.
You Must:
- have a degree in social work/Occupational Therapy or equivalent
- have valid drivers license and access to a car
All social workers who qualified after September 2012 need to:
- undertake the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE)
- meet the expected standards during the ASYE period
The ASYE scheme is required unless you can prove that you meet the standards laid out in the professional capabilities’ framework.
Friends and Family Referral Scheme
The friends and family referral scheme applies to this post. If an employee recommended this post to you mention them when asked on your application form. They'll give you all the information you need.
Employees can share this advert by using the button links alongside the job title.
Relocation expenses package (for Level 2 and 3 social workers only)
A generous relocation package is payable, of which up to £8,000 (of HMRC eligible elements) are free of tax. We can offer you help to move whether you are looking to buy or rent, depending on your circumstances.
Our Package Includes:
- an initial advance of up to £2,500 payable when you start
- help towards fees associated with buying/selling (up to £6,500)
- an option to receive help towards your rent or mortgage in the first two years
To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact our Principal Social Worker, Sarah-Louise Clark at [email protected].
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:
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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.