Job Description

We are looking for a social worker who has completed their assessed and supported year in employment to join our Children in Care teams.



In this role you will work with children and young people aged 0 -18 who are in our care, whether they are living with foster carers, with family and friend carers, or in a childrens home.



If you have recently qualified and are looking to start your social work career in Durham we would still love to hear from you.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

This is a fantastic role where the child will be at the heart of everything you do. You will care plan with children, their carers and family whilst ensuring their views are central to the plan, the childs needs are met well, and their future is planned for.



Relationships with children and their families will be very important to you. You will spend quality time with children in ourcare, understanding their views and their life events. You will take a trauma informed approach, supporting the child to understand and recover from what has happened.



Your work will be informed by the Signs of Safety framework which will support you to take a strength-based approach andwork towards the goals of the child and their family.



Please contact Natasha Gray by e-mail at natasha.gray@durham.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

HOW WILL I BE SUPPORTED?

We are passionate about social work in County Durham. We are committed to providing a culture where good practice can flourish. We ensure our social workers are highly supported and encourage flexible working to achieve a good work-life balance.



You will benefit from a range of training opportunities and professional development through personalised induction, professional supervision, and mentoring.



Take a closer look at social work in County Durham on our website

WHAT WILL I NEED?

You will need a degree in Social Work or equivalent Social Work qualification and current Social Work England registration.



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.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held on 18 November 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.



Social workers post ASYE in this post are eligible for a recruitment/retention allowance of 2,500 over 12 months (pro-rata for part time workers). Payments are made in equal instalments across a 12-month period alongside your pay. The allowances are subject to tax, National Insurance and pension contributions.

REMOVAL AND LODGINGS

Removal, lodging and separation expenses may be available to the successful candidate if at the time of application for appointment their place of residence is outside the administrative area of County Durham and more than 30 miles in a straight line from their new administrative centre, along with several other criteria for eligibility.

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 RecruitmentCYPS@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 dont miss any updates.





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