- Suffolk County Council
- Address:
Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ
Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU - Salary: £36,124 - £45,595 per annum, plus up to £4,000 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)
- Hours: Full time and part time
- Contract: Permanent
Jobs available
- 1 x 30 hours per week - Social Worker based in Lowestoft: £36,124 - £39,513 per annum, plus £4,000 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)
- 1 x 37 hours per week - Social Worker based in Ipswich: £36,124 - £39,513 per annum, plus £4,000 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)
- 1 x 37 hours per week - Senior Social Worker based in Bury St Edmunds: £40,215 - £45,595 per annum, plus £3,500 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)
- 1 x 22.5 hours per week - Senior Social Worker based in Bury St Edmunds: £40,215 - £45,595 per annum, plus £3,500 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)
All roles are predominantly office based.
The Leaving Care Service is seeking to recruit a Social Worker (SW) and Senior Social worker (SSW) to join the service in Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich. In this role you will work with a specialist team of Social Workers and Personal Advisers to deliver high quality social care services to young people leaving care throughout Suffolk.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed self-motivated person to provide advice and support to Care Leavers aged 16-25 as they make their transition from care into independence.
Your role
To be successful in your application you will have experience of working with young people in a professional capacity, as well as an understanding of the issues and challenges that affect Care Leavers. You will also have enthusiasm and be creative in engaging young people.
We are looking for individuals with significant experience of partnership working and working successfully with colleagues in other services on complex issues. You are someone who can promote the need for improvement and act as a role model for change.
Positive, committed, adaptable and thorough, those around you will appreciate your confident approach and your personal integrity. You are also able to work to deadlines and motivate others to work effectively.
You will work with skilled, passionate, and supportive Team Managers and colleagues, looking at innovative ways to build relationships with our young people, their families and partners so the voices of our young people are heard.
Key responsibilities and duties
- To develop and sustain positive working relationships with young people and the team and be highly motivated to deliver excellent services to young people
- Liaise with other professionals
- Understanding of relevant legislation
- Hold complex cases
- Undertake Pathway plans and Core Assessments
- Attending Case conferences and other relevant meetings
- Attending CIC Reviews
- Good knowledge of IT
What you need
- a relevant social work qualification and Social Work England registration
- to hold a full and current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profiles below, if you believe you can succeed in this role, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
The Leaving Care Service's mission is to help our care leavers aged 16-24 to develop their independence and make a successful transition into adulthood. You will work with a specialist team of Social Workers and Personal Advisers to deliver high quality social care services to young people leaving care throughout Suffolk.
The quality of the relationships created with young people is paramount, as are working relationships which enable access to expertise and resources of a range of other services and agencies, both within CYP and beyond.
Shaping careers and learning
We understand that being a social worker can be a challenging role, which is why we offer:
- regular supervision sessions to provide guidance and assistance
- comprehensive training opportunities to boost your professional skills
- a structured career Progression Scheme (pdf) to foster your growth.
This way, you can be confident in your abilities and provide the best possible care to those in need.
Additional benefits
- up to 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays per annum, pro rata for part time
- an uplift of 3 additional annual leave days, pro rata for part time
- 3 protected CPD days per annum
- access to a relocation package of up to £8,000, a car leasing scheme and a welcome loan of £2,000 for all new social workers moving to Suffolk
- free on-site car parking in all council buildings
- flexible working options and our commitment to supporting health and wellbeing
- detailed induction programme, including mandatory Signs of Safety training
- staff networks which are open to staff, councillors and partners that share similar characteristics, life experiences, values and beliefs.
Empowering Everyone
We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are 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 (suffolk.gov.uk).
Discover More
- A day in the life of a Children's Social Worker. (suffolkjobsdirect.org)
- Find out about our beautiful county of Suffolk and see what a wonderful place it is to live and work, please visit welcome to Suffolk (visitsuffolk.com).
- Further information on what we will offer you (careers.suffolk.gov.uk).
- Sponsorship for a visa may be available for current UK residents. This role is based in Suffolk.
For more information
For an informal discussion about the role/s, please contact:
Social Worker role
Deborah Maddock (Lowestoft) by emailing: [email protected] or calling 01473 260140.
Senior Social Worker role
Tania Slicing (Ipswich) by emailing: [email protected] or calling 01473 264978 or
Cat MacDonald (Ipswich) by emailing: [email protected]or calling 01473 264965
How to apply
Step 1: Please read the Job and Personal Profile below and our Progression Scheme (pdf)before applying for this job.
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3: Upload your CV (Curriculum Vitae) and complete a short online application form (stating in your application the location you are applying for).
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
Please note: Without a CV, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing: [email protected]or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 14 August 2025.
Interview date: 22 August 2025.
Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.
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.
Suffolk County Council - welcoming diversity.
People & HR (1)