Locum Safeguarding Qualified Social Worker

Advanced Social Worker (Children & Families – South & West Devon)

Brief Job Overview

 
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Advanced Social Worker to join Devon County Council’s Children & Families Service in the South & West Devon area. This is a pivotal role for a confident practitioner who enjoys both direct work with families and supporting colleagues to deliver outstanding practice.  

As an Advanced Social Worker, you will work closely with your Team Manager, providing professional leadership, supervision, and guidance to colleagues. You will help drive improvement across the team while holding a smaller, complex caseload. This hands-on role combines practice excellence with leadership — ensuring that children, young people, and families receive the highest quality of support.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Team Manager to support the day-to-day operations of the Children & Families team, promoting effective and efficient service delivery.
• Provide supervision, coaching, and mentoring to social workers, students, and unqualified or alternatively qualified staff.
• Hold a smaller caseload, focusing on children and families with complex needs and undertaking in-depth assessments and interventions.
• Promote high professional standards and reflective practice across the team, supporting colleagues to strengthen their social work knowledge and skills.
• Champion evidence-based and strengths-based practice in all areas of work with children and families.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives by challenging practice constructively and helping develop best-practice approaches.
• Deliver on-the-job training and encourage professional development and learning within the team.
• Work collaboratively with other agencies and professionals to ensure effective multi-agency working and holistic support for families.
• Ensure that all work is compliant with statutory requirements, council policies, and social work standards.

About You

 
You are a reflective and confident Advanced Social Worker with extensive experience in children’s social care. You bring both professional expertise and leadership skills, supporting others to deliver high-quality, child-centred practice.  

You are passionate about improving outcomes for children and families, able to balance a smaller complex caseload with mentoring and supporting team development. Your strong understanding of safeguarding, assessment, and partnership working ensures you contribute effectively to a culture of continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Significant post-qualifying experience in Children’s Services, demonstrating advanced professional competence.
• Proven ability to work with families with complex needs in multi-agency settings.
• Experience of mentoring, coaching, and supervising colleagues and students.
• Evidence of substantial post-qualifying training and development.
• Strong understanding of child protection, safeguarding, and evidence-based practice models.
• Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to challenge and lead improvement in a constructive, supportive manner.
• Commitment to professional learning, reflective supervision, and continuous improvement.

Contract & Salary

• Job Type: Locum
• Location: South & West Devon, Devon County Council
• Service Area: Children & Families
• Contract Length: 3 months (short-term contract)
• Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
• Working Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
• Working Pattern: Hybrid – office and community-based work

How to Apply

 
If you are an experienced and inspirational Advanced Social Worker who thrives on developing others while delivering meaningful change for children and families, we’d love to hear from you.  
Please apply using the form on the page.