Social Worker - Children's Specialist Support Team

• Social_Worker_-_CSST_JD_PS_Sept_25
• Candidate_Pack_-_People_Directorate_-_Sept_2025

Please apply online via the link provided.

An exciting, full-time, permanent opportunity has arisen for a Social Worker with extensive safeguarding knowledge to join our disability team and make a difference to the lives of children and young people with specialist and complex needs.

To learn more about what it is like to work with us, take a look at our team's video.

If you would like an informal chat or a tour of the office prior to submitting your application, please contact helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk to arrange a suitable time.

About you...

You must have a current Social Work England registration and have successfully completed your ASYE in a statutory children social care setting. We are looking for someone with experience of working with children and families that includes Child in Need and Child protection.

To succeed in this role, you will have knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, policies and thresholds. You will also be able to demonstrate strong assessment and analytical skills. You should have experience of working in partnership with children and their families and other professionals, to produce needs led plans for children and young people. You will have the ability to work both independently and effectively as part of a team.

Experience of working with children with disabilities and complex needs is desirable but not essential, as we will support you to develop this specialist knowledge.

About the team...

The Children’s Specialist Support Team (CSST) is a highly skilled team working with children who have disabilities and/or complex health needs. We are an experienced, friendly and supportive team who focuses 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).

The team is an eclectic mix of different service areas covering a wide breadth of work with children with disabilities, Occupational Therapy, Short Breaks (including Larchwood, our short break respite unit), Taking a child first and social model approach. Partnership and collaborative working is the key to our success.

The team is well integrated with local partners and works alongside specialist workers in domestic abuse, mental health and substance misuse, often in co-located settings.

You can read what our team have to say about working at Bracknell Forest via this link: Children's social care jobs | Bracknell Forest Council

Key responsibilities...

• To promote listening to children at every opportunity ensuring their views are heard, recorded and acted upon in an appropriate and timely manner and to support the completion of life journey work with children and young people in accordance with their age and understanding.
• To hold a caseload and provide assessment, care planning, intervention and family support according to expertise.
• To assess and identify the needs of children and families referred and negotiate delivery of services by determining how these needs can be best met in accordance with statutory responsibilities and council policies using best value principles.
• To work alongside voluntary and statutory partner agencies and within the context of the care plan for children and families to ensure the provision of appropriate and effective services.
• To develop and maintain accurate case records and comply with the department's policies, procedures and guidelines including data protection and GDPR.
• To participate in regular reflective supervision and be able to set clear goals and intervention strategies.

Our benefits...

• 28 days* annual leave increasing to 33 days* after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days*.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

*(pro rata for part time)

Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.

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.

Reasonable adjustments

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. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.

Interview date

Interviews will be held on 14th October 2025.

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

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

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:

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

Or Kylie Somenthal - Assistant Team Manager - Kylie.Somenthal@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

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.

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.