Wiltshire Council
Principal Social Worker
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Principal Social Worker
Salary: £64,844 - £68,987 per annum
Hours per week: 37 hours
Interview date: Monday 06 July 2026
About the Role
We are looking for an exceptional and experienced social work leader to take on the role of Principal Social Worker, someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and families, and who can influence practice at a strategic level.
This is a unique opportunity to join a forward-thinking local authority on a strong improvement journey, working as part of an extended leadership team within Families and Childrens Services. You will shape the future of social work practice, drive innovation, and work collaboratively with senior leaders, partners and national networks. You will benefit from working in a supportive, high-performing environment that values continuous learning, professional development and career progression, while contributing to meaningful change across a large and ambitious organisation.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and implementation of professional standards, practice frameworks and workforce development strategies.
- Oversee quality assurance and performance improvement activity, using data, audit and feedback to drive excellence in practice.
- Provide expert advice at a senior level, influence multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, and ensure learning is translated into measurable service improvement.
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Requirements
- Qualified social worker registered with Social Work England.
- Significant senior leadership experience in childrens services.
- Expert knowledge of safeguarding and national policy.
- Proven track record of leading change across complex systems.
- Strong leadership, analytical and influencing skills.
Why Us?
Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Find out more about Our Identity, staff networks, and employee benefits on our careers page - jobs.wiltshire.gov.uk.
Our hybrid working model means office staff are on site for at least half their hours, community-based staff carry out at least half their admin time in a workplace, and customer-facing roles work entirely from their service location.
We are committed to creating a workplace where positive relationships thrive and everyone feels engaged, supported and able to do their best. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect, guided by our vision and Our Identity.
Contact Details
Tim Sandle, Head of Service QA Performance and Sector Led on 01722 438918 x58918.
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Application Criteria
Please download and read the role description and person specification carefully before you apply; this will be available via the application link.
We understand that AI tools can support you in preparing job applications. However, we value authenticity and would encourage you to ensure your submission genuinely reflects your own experiences, skills, and motivations.
Important Note:
Wiltshire Council does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate details from recruitment agencies that are not appointed under a current, valid contract or approved supplier arrangement (including through our neutral vendor, Comensura). Submission of unsolicited CVs or candidate details to the Council, whether directly or to individual employees, will not be considered as an introduction and will not create any obligation on the Council to pay any fees. If a candidate whose details have been submitted speculatively is subsequently appointed through a compliant route, no agency fee will be payable in respect of the unsolicited submission.
Agencies wishing to work with the Council must do so only via our approved procurement processes and neutral vendor arrangements.
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