UK Ministry of Defence
Navy Command-Royal Navy Family & People Support (RN FPS)- Social Worker
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Position 1 is in:- HMS Nelson, Queen St, Portsmouth, PO1 3hh
Position 2 is in:- 1-5 Churchill Square, Helensburgh, G84 9HL
Please note that there are 2 positions available, with 1 post based in Portsmouth and 1 post based in Helensburgh. Candidates will be asked to indicate their preferred location as part of the application process.
Job Summary
At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.
As the steward of the Royal Navy’s people capability, Director People and Training ensures the Fleet has skilled, motivated, and well‑prepared personnel. Responsible for recruitment, training, education, and career development, the directorate enables sailors and officers to thrive and ensures the Royal Navy remains a world‑class fighting force.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week
Job Description
Are you a qualified Social Worker who wants to make a genuine difference to people facing some of life's most challenging circumstances?
Royal Navy Family and People Support is the Royal Navy's dedicated welfare organisation, providing specialist support to serving personnel, their families, and military communities across the United Kingdom and overseas. We help people build resilience, navigate difficult situations, and access the support they need when it matters most.
As a Social Worker, you’ll play a vital role in delivering specialist welfare and safeguarding support to individuals and families. Working as part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team, you’ll help people overcome challenges, promote wellbeing, and contribute to positive outcomes across the Naval community.
This is an opportunity to use your professional expertise in a rewarding environment where your work will have a direct and lasting impact on people's lives.
What you'll be doing
- Manage a varied caseload, providing specialist social work support to individuals and families.
- Assess needs, identify risks, and develop effective support plans that promote wellbeing and resilience.
- Provide safeguarding support for vulnerable adults and children, ensuring appropriate action is taken when required.
- Work closely with colleagues and partner organisations to deliver coordinated and person centred support.
- Maintain accurate case records and reports in line with professional standards, legislation, and organisational guidance.
- Support the development of others through coaching, mentoring, supervision, and sharing professional expertise where appropriate.
Are you a qualified Social Worker who wants to make a genuine difference to people facing some of life's most challenging circumstances?
Royal Navy Family and People Support is the Royal Navy's dedicated welfare organisation, providing specialist support to serving personnel, their families, and military communities across the United Kingdom and overseas. We help people build resilience, navigate difficult situations, and access the support they need when it matters most.
As a Social Worker, you’ll play a vital role in delivering specialist welfare and safeguarding support to individuals and families. Working as part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team, you’ll help people overcome challenges, promote wellbeing, and contribute to positive outcomes across the Naval community.
This is an opportunity to use your professional expertise in a rewarding environment where your work will have a direct and lasting impact on people's lives.
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What you'll be doing
- Manage a varied caseload, providing specialist social work support to individuals and families.
- Assess needs, identify risks, and develop effective support plans that promote wellbeing and resilience.
- Provide safeguarding support for vulnerable adults and children, ensuring appropriate action is taken when required.
- Work closely with colleagues and partner organisations to deliver coordinated and person centred support.
- Maintain accurate case records and reports in line with professional standards, legislation, and organisational guidance.
- Support the development of others through coaching, mentoring, supervision, and sharing professional expertise where appropriate.
Person specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
- Experience of managing a complex caseload within a social work setting.
- Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policies, and best practice relating to children and adults.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands.
- Confidence using digital systems to maintain accurate case records and documentation.
Mandatory Licences
- Social Work England (SWE) Registration
- Scottish Social Work Council (SSSC) registration
Mandatory Qualifications
- Social Work degree or equivalent (eg Dipsw)
Licences
- Social Work England (SWE) Registration
Qualifications
- Social Work degree or equivalent (eg Dipsw)
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
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The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
As part of Defence Reform, Navy Command continues to review and evolve its Target Operating Model to support more agile ways of working. In this context, the role and responsibilities of this role may develop over time to reflect changing business priorities and opportunities.
At Sift, you will be assessed against the following;
- Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history, qualification details and previous skills and experience.
- Candidates will be required to provide a personal statement. This should be a maximum of 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements for the role.
Behaviours:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
At Interview, you will be assessed against the following;
Behaviours:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Making effective decisions
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-
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