Job Description

How you'll make a difference:

As a Senior Social Worker, you will be working within the 'families together' section of the WAYPOINT team (Working Alongside Young People and Others in Networks Therapeutically).


Our Families Together team support children, young people, and their families when a child or young person is at risk of becoming a child in care due to family relationships breaking down. We also support children and young people in care to be reunified home when it is the right, safe time to do so.


What you will be doing:
Working in the 'families together' section of WAYPOINT, you will provide one to one therapeutically and trauma informed support to children, young people, and families through weekly support sessions. It will be your responsibility to manage a small team of Support Workers who utilise a range of therapeutic and parenting approaches to collaboratively create personalised 'WAYPOINT contributions' for children, young people, families, and professionals.

What we need from you:
We require you to be a qualified Social Worker with relevant registration to practice with Social Work England (SWE). Given the elements of this role, you will be used to solving problems, be confident about making important decisions and are passionate about working with children, young people and families to meet their goals and aspirations. You will have experience of supervision or mentoring social workers or support staff and substantial first-hand experience in a relevant children's social care team. Ideally, you will have trained in Signs of Safety practice or have a willingness to learn as the you will need to lead Signs of Safety group supervision for the WAYPOINT team.

What you need to know:
Although this post is advertised as a full-time position, we encourage and welcome applications from experienced social workers who may be seeking part time, job share or flexible working arrangements. Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained. You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle insured for business use or have an alternative suitable means of travel. Business insurance will need to be added to your current car policy.

Interviews will be held week commencing 12th January 2026.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different:
As part of our benefits package, you will receive

generous annual leave

(pro rata), employee

wellbeing support

and you will have access to a range of

staff discounts,

including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. We recognise that our

diverse team

of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. We invest in the careers of our people, and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our

training and development

offer, which helps our people make the greatest long-term difference in their work. What's special here is the strength of the

team ethos

. We are a relatively small local authority, so managers know staff well. They can plan their services to ensure teams have

manageable caseloads

and have effective supervision so

feel supported

to make decisions which are right for the children and young people they work with. We are

committed to safeguarding

and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.
"Staff are overwhelmingly positive about working for South Gloucestershire Council. Staff report feeling heard and responded to by senior leaders. Reduced workloads, increased stability of managers and more business support have strengthened their ability to respond to and improve the quality of practice for children. A wealth of concentrated training, including the Programme for Change initiative, has developed skill sets and expertise of staff. Staff benefit from a clear pathway of career progression, including a bespoke managers development programme." [Ofsted Report published July 2024]

These posts are currently eligible for a market factor

3,000 'retention payment

' pro rata, payable in November annually to those with two years' service with the council in Children's Social Care In an eligible post, inclusive of any ASYE period.


Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We're providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.


We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We're making a difference, be part of it!

To view the full job description, please click this link: Senior Social Worker Waypoint