Social Worker

Social Worker

Job description

Full Time, Permanent

Children & Families Social Worker Opportunities

Location: East Central Bristol | Based at The Welsman.

(You must be a Qualified and Registered Social Worker to apply for this role).

Be Part of Something Special in Bristol

"Workforce morale is high. Practitioners 'love' working for Bristol and feel highly supported by their managers. All practitioners, regardless of their length of time working for Bristol, feel valued and enabled to make a positive difference in improving the lives of vulnerable children." Ofsted Focused Visit 2026

Are you an experienced Social Worker who has successfully completed your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) and is looking for the next step in your career? Do you want to work somewhere that values relationships, invests in your development, and provides the support you need to do your best work?

We are looking for skilled social workers who are confident in working with children and families, committed to relationship-based practice, and passionate about achieving positive outcomes for children. If you are seeking a supportive environment where your professional judgement is valued and your career development is actively encouraged, we would love to hear from you.

Why Choose East Central?

Based at The Welsman in the heart of Bristol, East Central Children and Families teams work with some of the city's most vibrant, diverse, and culturally rich communities. The area encompasses a wide range of neighbourhoods, cultures, languages, faiths, and family experiences, creating a dynamic and rewarding environment for social work practice.

The diversity of the communities we serve means that no two days are the same. Our practitioners work with families from a broad range of backgrounds and life experiences, developing culturally informed practice and building meaningful relationships that help create lasting change for children.

We are deeply committed to anti-discriminatory practice and support our social workers to develop the confidence, curiosity, and cultural awareness needed to work effectively with the rich range of communities that make up East Central Bristol.

Our Approach to Practice

In East Central, we are proud of our strong and supportive practice culture. Our social work practice is grounded in systemic principles, helping us to understand family relationships, strengths, and dynamics, while Signs of Safety provides a framework that guides our assessment, planning, and direct work with children and families.

We place a strong emphasis on the importance of Family Networks and believe that children achieve the best outcomes when their wider family and support systems are actively involved in planning for their future. Family Network Meetings and Family Network Plans are central to our practice, helping families identify their own strengths, resources, and solutions while ensuring children's safety and wellbeing remain at the forefront. We are committed to working alongside families and their networks to build sustainable plans that create lasting change and reduce the need for statutory intervention where possible.

Our focus is on building meaningful relationships, understanding what matters to children and families, and working collaboratively to create safety, stability, and positive outcomes.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking experienced Social Workers who have completed their ASYE and are ready to further develop their practice within a supportive and ambitious service. You will bring:

• A recognised Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
• Completion of the ASYE programme.
• Experience of working with children and families within statutory social work settings.
• Strong assessment, relationship-building, and analytical skills.
• A commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and working effectively with diverse communities.
• A passion for supporting children to achieve safe, stable, and positive outcomes.
  
  

The Role

As a Social Worker within East Central Children and Families, you will:

• Undertake statutory duties for children and families within Child in Need, Child Protection and Court proceedings.
• Complete assessments and develop strengths-based plans.
• Work collaboratively with children, families, partner agencies, and wider support networks.
• Facilitate meaningful change through direct work, intervention, and safety planning.
• Support permanence planning when required.
• Promote positive outcomes, safety, and stability for children.
• Facilitate Family Network Meetings and support the development of Family Network Plans that place families at the centre of decision-making and planning for children.
  
  

Small Teams and Strong Support

Our social workers benefit from working in small, collaborative teams led by experienced, knowledgeable, and accessible managers. Support is readily available, and reflective supervision is at the heart of our practice.

With a manager-to-social-worker ratio of approximately 1:3, practitioners receive meaningful oversight, challenge, and encouragement to support their professional growth and development.

Strong Relationships and Family-Led Practice

Relationship-based practice sits at the heart of what we do. We recognise and value the role of family networks in children's lives and support social workers to confidently facilitate Family Network Meetings that empower families to develop their own plans for change, safety, and support.

A Strong Office Culture

Located centrally at Welsman in St Pauls, our office is easily accessible and provides all staff with a dedicated workspace. We do not hot desk because we value the connections, continuity, and professional relationships that develop through working alongside one another.

Being office-based helps us foster a strong team culture where collaboration, shared learning, and mutual support are central to how we work. Our practitioners tell us that this environment helps them feel connected, supported, and able to access help whenever needed.

Career Development

Developing our staff is one of our key commitments. We know that investing in the growth of our social workers benefits both our workforce and the children and families we serve.

We offer:

• Comprehensive induction and support.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Access to systemic and practice-focused training.
• Career progression pathways.
• Opportunities to develop specialist expertise and leadership skills.
  
  

Why Join Bristol Children's Services?

Bristol Children's Services has been recognised for its positive culture and commitment to excellent social work practice. Our practitioners consistently report high levels of support from managers, access to reflective supervision, and confidence in the service's learning culture.

You will join a workforce that is committed to:

• Relationship-based practice.
• Family-led planning and meaningful engagement with family networks.
• Continuous learning and improvement.
• Supporting one another through complex work.
• Delivering the best possible outcomes for children and families.
  
  

Why Bristol?

Bristol is a vibrant, creative, and inclusive city, rich in culture, community, and opportunity. It is a city that celebrates diversity and offers an inspiring place to live, work, and develop your career.

If you share our values and want to make a positive difference to the lives of children and families while working in a supportive and ambitious service, we would love to hear from you.

"Together, we can make a positive difference to the lives of Bristol's children and families."

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For an informal discussion about opportunities within East Central Bristol, please contact:Adam AsgharArea Services Manager, East Central0117 9036500.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black and racially minoritised and Disabled candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.