Qualified Social Worker (Adults)

Overview

Are you passionate about making a meaningful difference in adults’ lives? Join us and be part of a forward‑thinking, supportive service where your voice is heard, your wellbeing matters and your professional growth is genuinely encouraged. With excellent transport links and strong investment in staff development and wellbeing, this is an opportunity to build a rewarding career in a council that truly values its social workers.

We have the following permanent, full time Qualified Social Worker opportunities available across our social work teams:

• 1 x South Locality Team
• 2 x North Learning Disability Team
• 1 x Hospital Discharge Team

Please state your preference within your application.

In addition to the salary advertised you will receive a market premium of £2,275 per annum.

We also offer a Golden Hello payment of £2,000 paid on successful completion of your probationary period (for external candidates only).

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

Why work with us

We know that great social work happens when practitioners feel supported, valued and able to focus on quality practice. When you join us, you can expect:

• Professional investment – We will cover the cost of your annual Social Work England registration, alongside access to a wide range of internal and external learning opportunities and professional resources.
• Excellent transport links – Our county‑wide locations benefit from strong road connections, including easy access to the M25, M40 and A‑road networks, making our services easily commutable from surrounding counties. We are also outside of the ULEZ zone.
• Wellbeing that matters – We prioritise staff wellbeing through a range of initiatives, including wellbeing sessions, team‑building activities, volunteering opportunities and a culture of open, supportive communication.
• Robust induction & ongoing support – You will benefit from a structured induction programme, dedicated buddy support and planned shadowing opportunities, helping you settle confidently into your role. We have a clear career progression pathway to give you opportunities to grow and flourish.
• Hybrid working – We support a hybrid working model that enables effective service delivery while promoting work‑life balance. Appropriate IT equipment will be provided to support efficient working across different locations.
• Realistic expectations – You can expect a manageable caseload, reflective supervision and supportive, approachable managers who are committed to high‑quality practice.
• Staff benefits – Free parking and an essential car user allowance, access to discounts across cafés, restaurants and shops, and automatic enrolment into our generous pension scheme. We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme to those who are eligible and have passed their probation period.

About the role

As a Social Worker, you will play a key role in supporting adults to achieve greater independence, wellbeing and positive life outcomes. Working within a supportive team environment, you will deliver high‑quality, strengths‑based practice, supported by reflective supervision and realistic caseloads.

You will:

• Manage a varied caseload, delivering proportionate, outcome‑focused assessments, support plans and reviews
• Work in line with legislation, statutory guidance and local policies, with safeguarding at the forefront of practice
• Build positive and effective working relationships with adults, families, carers and partner organisations
• Apply a strengths‑based, community and assets‑focused approach in line with the Better Lives framework
• Contribute to multi‑agency working, including safeguarding enquiries and reviews
• Maintain accurate, high‑quality case records and produce clear, professional reports
• Act as a positive ambassador for social work, contributing to service improvement and best practice

About you

You must hold a Social Work degree and be registered with Social Work England. Ideally, you will have experience of working within Adult Social Care in the UK.

You can work flexibly to meet service needs, manage priorities and adapt your approach in response to changing demands. You will have sound knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding procedures and you can apply this confidently within strengths‑based, outcome‑focused practice. You will be comfortable working independently and collaboratively with partner agencies, maintain accurate and timely records, and remain committed to continuous professional development.

For further details, please refer to the full job summary attached.

Other information

A full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle is an essential requirement for this role.

For more information about these exciting roles, please contact:

• Megan Bardini - [email protected] (South Locality Team)
• Adedoyin Amuwo - [email protected] (North Learning Disability Team)
• Jo Towner - [email protected] (Hospital Discharge Team)

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining us, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

We know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Service Area

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to ensuring that our residents stay as independent as they can, for as long as possible. Everyone has the right to live a fulfilling and nourishing life, and for many people, social care plays a key role in achieving that.

We are looking for dynamic Social Workers who are passionate about enabling clients to fulfil their potential, whilst promoting self-determination, and who are passionate, supportive, motivated, and confident when supporting and communicating with people - either on the telephone or face to face.

Your work will include carrying out needs assessments, creating person-centred and strengths-based care plans, ensuring delivery of services, and reviewing outcomes with the individual, their personal networks, and support providers.

You will work in partnership with other professionals and organisations to support our residents effectively and holistically. Our Social Workers will endorse and act by the principles of personalisation, ensuring that care and support plans are person-centred, and as far as is safely possible, you will put the people with whom you work in control of their lives.

You will also demonstrate emotional resilience and intelligence - which is the ability to maintain focus and to ‘keep going’ despite setbacks and stressful situations, a real desire to enable clients to achieve or maintain their goals of living independently and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment.

 So, if you are looking for a new challenge, want to become part of a team that places a premium on listening and learning, and which is determined to make a difference – we want to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/