Social Worker - Children's Specialist Support Team

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Worker to join our disability team, to make a difference to the lives of children and young people with specialist needs.

At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment.  We understand the importance of a good work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices and hybrid working opportunities.  

About you..

We are looking for a dedicated Social Worker who is committed to advocating for children and their families, striving to create positive change in their lives. You will have experience in supporting children with disabilities and their families and be equipped to understand their unique needs by conducting assessments and developing care plans. The ability to manage competing demands while prioritising those children who are most vulnerable will be essential, to ensure they receive the care and attention they deserve. You will also have in-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, including safeguarding and child protection protocols, which will guide your practice. 

About the team...

We are a small, welcoming and friendly local authority. Our leadership team knows that it is essential for Social Workers to have a secure physical and psychological base from which to be the best workers they can be. We are proud of our connected and inclusive culture, with a strong focus on wellbeing, which will provide you with a strong sense of belonging. 

The Children's Specialist Support Team is a multi-professional service delivering a "right help at the right time" approach, to children with disabilities and their families.​ Our team supports children and young people up to the age of 18 with a variety of disabilities and complex needs. 

We are an experienced, friendly and supportive team who focus on ensuring that children are at the centre of all we do. We provide a range of services for children with additional needs and those who are assessed to have additional vulnerability. This includes the council’s statutory responsibilities for disabled Children in Need in the community (including care packages and short breaks). Partnership and collaborative working is the key to our success as our service covers a wide breadth of work with children with disabilities, occupational therapy, short breaks (including Larchwood - our short break respite unit) and taking a child first and social model approach.

Key responsibilities...

You will be responsible for a caseload of children with disabilities, including Children in Need, children subject to Child Protection Plans, Children in Care and those where care proceedings have been initiated. You will play a crucial role in conducting assessments, developing care plans and ensuring the delivery of appropriate services to meet the individual needs of each child.

Please refer to the attached job description for further details.

Our benefits...

• 28 days* increasing to 33 days* after 3 years’ continuous service.
• The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. 
• An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks. 
• Local government pension scheme.
• Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave. 
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply – please refer to candidate pack for more information.)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities. 
• A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre. 
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing. 
• Sports and Social Club.
• Staff dental and health plans. 
• Discounted leisure centre and gym membership. 
• Supermarket discount. 

*(pro rata for part time)

Our values...

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you. 

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.

Interview date 

Candidates will be shortlisted on weekly basis and we reserve the right to close the advert once a suitable candidate has been found. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question? 

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact: 

Catherine Lloyd, Team Manager, Catherine.Lloyd@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

or

Benigna Amago, Assistant Team Manager, Benigna.Amago@bracknell-forest.gov.uk 

At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current Social Care System and Framework.

Social Work England registration fees can be claimed back from the Council

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.