Suffolk County Council
Senior Social Worker
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- Suffolk County Council
- Address: Constantine House, Ipswich, IP1 2DH - Hybrid
- Salary: £41,502 per annum (pro rata)
- Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
- Contract: Fixed Term or Secondment for up to 9 months (Maternity Cover)
We’re passionate about improving the future for the people we work with, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Senior Social Worker and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
As part of our frontline Adult Social Care team, you will play a vital role in helping people achieve the outcomes that matter most to them. You will:
- Deliver high-quality, person-centred social care and support to adults with care and support needs, and their carers.
- Undertake complex strengths-based assessments, reviews, support planning, short-term enablement planning, mental capacity assessments, and safeguarding interventions.
- Promote independence, wellbeing, choice, and personalisation, empowering people to live as independently as possible.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, partner organisations, and health professionals to provide integrated care and support.
- Contribute to peer support and supervision, sharing knowledge and best practice across the team.
- Use professional judgement and creative problem-solving to achieve positive outcomes while working within available resources and budget constraints.
- Apply your knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005, to support effective decision-making and safeguard adults at risk.
You will need
- A recognised Social Work qualification.
- Registration with Social Work England.
- Experience of working within Adult Social Care and applying relevant legislation in practice.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word) (JPP), https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/24432-Senior-Social-Worker.docx, which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.
If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
In Adult Social Care, our goal is to help people achieve the outcomes that matter most to them, promoting independence, wellbeing, and choice through both statutory and preventative support.
You will be part of our Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, working alongside Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Reablement staff, Community Nurses, and Physiotherapists to deliver coordinated, person-centred support. As an experienced practitioner, you will provide guidance and support to frontline colleagues while contributing to high-quality service delivery across the team.
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You will work with adults aged 18 and over, and their carers, including people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairments, dementia, mental health needs, and others with complex care and support needs. You will support adults who may be at risk of harm or neglect, applying your professional expertise to manage complex situations and achieve positive outcomes.
Using a strengths-based approach, you will empower individuals to build on their existing skills, abilities, and support networks, helping them maintain their independence and reduce the need for more intensive interventions, including avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions wherever possible.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/our-aims-and-transformation-programmes/the-councils-equality-and-inclusion-commitment-to-you.
For more information
Please contact Jessica Niblock (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach her by calling 01394 605043 or emailing jessica.niblock2@suffolk.gov.uk.
If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word). https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/24432-Senior-Social-Worker.docx
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word) https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/Other-Docs/SupportingStatementTemplate.docx.
- Please describe a complex case you have managed. What made the situation complex, how did you assess and manage the risks, and what was the outcome for the individual?
- Describe a time when you provided supervision, mentoring, or professional support to a colleague. How did you help them develop their practice or manage a challenging situation?
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Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/657088.
Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/764097 to understand what’s acceptable.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/757078.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 12 August 2026.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
- up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
- membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
- performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
- training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
- a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
- diverse and active staff networks
- flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk) [https://careers.suffolk.gov.uk/]
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