Social Worker

About the role

We are looking for a social worker who has completed the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment to join our Pre-Birth team. In this role, you will work closely with care leavers, young parents, and families who have previously been involved in care proceedings. By delivering intensive, relationship-based intervention that supports parents to achieve meaningful and sustainable change, you will help more children to remain safely within their birth families. Where this is not in the child’s best interest, you will work to find a permanent home for the child as early as possible utilising our early permanence procedures.

Social Workers within the team hold a small caseload averaging 10 cases to support the intensive intervention offered to families. Inspectors have judged our Children’s Services as outstanding.

If you are keen to find out more, please contact Sarah Anavberokhai, Team Manager, for an informal discussion at sarah.anavberokhai@durham.gov.uk.

Responsibilities

• Work intensively with families to promote the voice of the child and achieve sustainable change.
• Build effective relationships with children, young people, and families.
• Produce focused written case notes and reports.
• Utilise early permanence procedures where remaining with birth families is not in the child’s best interest.

Requirements

• Completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
• Experience in building effective relationships with children, young people, and families.
• Experience in producing focused written case notes and reports.
• Commitment, enthusiasm, and professional confidence.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and an Enhanced DBS check (including Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) will be conducted.

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression). Pay award pending.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days, rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service.
• Membership of the contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable.
• Recruitment/retention allowance of £2,500 over 12 months for social workers post-ASYE (pro-rata for part-time workers).
• Removal, lodging, and separation expenses of up to £8,000 may be available if relocating from outside County Durham (over 30 miles away).

Schedule

Interviews will be held week commencing 7th September 2026 onwards. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who meet all essential criteria and identify as disabled, a looked-after young person, care leaver, or veteran.