Children's Social Workers and Senior Social Workers

• Suffolk County Council 
• Address: Various Locations in Suffolk - Hybrid working
• Salary: £37,280 - £47,054 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Plus retention payment of up to £4,000 per year (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: Full time or part time hours available
• Contract: Fixed Term and Permanent contracts available

Job roles available:

• Social Workers: £37,280 - £40,777 per annum, plus £4,000 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)
• Senior Social Workers: £41,502 - £47,054 per annum, plus £3,500 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)

See below for positions and teams available

Suffolk County Council (SCC) is different. We are a modern, flexible, and forward-thinking organisation that's constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our communities. We are also passionate about providing exceptional care and support to children and young people in need, and understand that to provide an outstanding service, our Social Workers need to be at their best. Here, you will find a supportive atmosphere designed to help you flourish professionally whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Join a profession that changes lives. As a social worker, you'll be part of a regulated, highly skilled team making a positive impact every day. While supporting children and their families, you'll help people find solutions, promote their rights, and empower them to thrive. We value the unique experiences and dedication our social workers bring, and we're committed to sharing the real, positive stories of social work in our community.

Are you ready to reimagine what your social work career could be?

As a social worker with us, you will enjoy a dynamic work environment where your ideas are valued, your potential is nurtured, and your work makes a tangible difference. 

Hear from our staff about our Social Work teams.

Find out more about Social Work within SCC Children and Young Peoples Services.

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.

 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.

We have opportunities available for Social Workers and Senior Social Workers across the following teams:

• Social and Senior Social Workers within the Social Care teams working with children subject to s17 and s47 assessment, a child in need, and child protection plans.
• 1 x Social Worker posts within Leaving Care (North) team working to support Care Leavers age 16-25 as they make their transition from care into independence.

Locality map, to understand where our 13 social care teams are based around Suffolk (ppt).

Please state in your application the role/s, location and team you are applying for.

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. 

Discover More

• A day in the life of a Children's Social Worker. 
• 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.
• Further information on what we will offer you.
• 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 email:  or contact Steve Blaney, Social Care Service Manager, by calling

How to apply

Please read the Job and Person Profiles (JPP) below and our Progression Scheme (pdf) before applying for this job, by uploading your CV and completing a short online application form (stating in your application the role/s, location and team you are applying for).

• Senior Social Worker JPP (Word)
• Social Worker JPP (Word)

For internal staff/ applicants only, please complete our Statement of Interest (Word) and return this by emailing: 

Closing date: 11.30pm, 31 December 2025

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.