Return to Social Work - Returning to Social Work? Join Norfolk Institute for Practice Excellence (NIPE) for a supported return | 2458 | Permanent Contract | Full & Part-time up to 37 hours per week | Starting Salary £38,510 per annum, pro rata (rising to £41,177 per annum, pro rata on progression to level 2) | Grade I | Norfolk

Are you considering a return to social work? We can offer tailored support to help you re-register and get back into practice.

Join an Outstanding local authority and be part of one of the strongest children’s services in the country. Following our recent Ofsted inspection, inspectors found that children in Norfolk receive “consistently strong services that impact positively on their and their families’ lives.” They described our practice as “child centred” and highlighted a culture where “children and care leavers come first.”

Read Ofsted's Inspection of Norfolk Children's Services March 2026 report [https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50301680]

In Norfolk we’ve invested millions to completely change our operating model and create the professional and emotional support around you that you need to do the job you trained for, to get the best outcomes for children and families, and to achieve a work-life balance that suits you. We’re realistic about the challenges, but we’re passionate about how we can support you to meet them, so you can enjoy the rewards social work has to offer.

We are interested in people with a range of social work backgrounds who are keen to get back into practice and we can support your return whenever you are ready.

• If you need to re-register with Social Work England (SWE), we will employ you as a Social Work Assistant to gain the hours of experience you need and will help you to re-register.
• Once re-registered, or if you already have SWE registration, you will have the dedicated support of a Practice Consultant - a senior Social Worker whose specific role is to support you with your learning and development. You will receive a tailored plan of support that enables you to work on the areas where you need to gain skills or experience.
• We want your return to social work to be successful and build on the skills and strengths you already have. You’ll be part of a social work team to enable learning from colleagues and you’ll have the support of a Team Manager.
• You will receive regular supportive and reflective supervision on both an individual and group supervision basis and will have a protected caseload that will develop as you do, allowing time for you to learn and develop your practice confidence.
• When you are ready, you will progress to a Level 2 Social Worker and receive a significant pay increment. As a Social Worker within Norfolk Children’s Services, you will receive a range of development opportunities and access to various avenues for career progression.
• Norfolk takes a restorative approach to working with children and families, based on Signs of Safety, which means that while your direct work with children and young people will be central, you will also be working alongside families and their networks to help them find solutions that keep their children safe and well, long-term.