Social Worker-Returning to Social Work

Job Description

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: Various locations across Leicestershire 

Salary: : £32,070 - £34,359 per annum whilst working as a SW Assistant and until restoration is complete, Once fully SWE registered increasing to (Level 2 Social Worker ) £38,734- £42,448 (Inclusive of Market premium £3,283)  (Level 3 Social Worker) £43,221 - £45,982  (Inclusive of Market premium £3,283)  per annum (pro rata for part time) (Pay award pending) 

Working Hours: 37 hours per week 

Contract Type:  Permanent

Closing Date:  15th September 2026

Interview Date(s): 6th October 2026

About the Role

Are you returning to social work practice? We offer support throughout the process of restoration to support you to re-register and return to the profession, with a permanent social work role upon completion of your registration and restoration.

Please note that an Enhanced DBS check is required for this post. Please ensure your application includes a full career history and provides reasons for any gaps.

For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.

About You

To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:

• A Social work qualification (degree or equivalent) and have previously been registered with Social Work England with a break of two years or more.
• Experience of social work practice working with children and families.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, child-care legislation and social work practice, Knowledge of social work methods and model.
• You must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence (or be able to convert your current licence) AND have access to a vehicle.
• Ability to communicate clearly, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to analyse information to reach a decision.
• Ability to manage your time and prioritise tasks, with the ability to respond flexibly to changing requirement.

Due to the nature of this role, you must be able to work outside normal office hours e.g. evenings on occasion if required.

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents.  You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

Through our return to social work program we will:

• Employ you as a social work assistant in a fixed term contract whilst you gain the necessary experience needed for your restoration. Before you start your role with us, you will meet with our Practice Excellence Team to develop a structured and tailored plan to help update your experience in the areas that you require. During the period of updating your skills, you will be supported by an experienced social worker and supervisor.
• Once you have completed updating your skills, we will support you with your restoration and registration fee with Social Work England.
• Once re-registered, you will be offered a permanent contract as a Level 2 Social Worker – £38,734 - £42,448 (inclusive of market premia at £3,283) per annum (pro-rata for part time) (Pay award pending)
• We want your return to social work to be successful, and we want to support you to develop your existing skills and strengths. You will be part of an established social work team where you can develop your skills through training, conferences, events and from your colleagues.
• You will receive monthly reflective supervision with your manager and access to regular group reflective supervision.
• You will have access to a wide range of training to support your development. You will also have access to the support of the Practice Excellence Team for 1:1 support, mentoring and development alongside tailored support.
• Leicestershire’s practice model is Signs of Safety which is focused on working in collaboration with families and professionals, following our values of being aspirational, being curious and working in collaboration. Leicestershire is also committed to being a trauma informed organisation, recognising the impact of trauma for children and families, alongside staff.

Interested in Flexible Working?

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:

Adam Tyler – Service Manager

[phone removed]

Email:   [email removed] 

How to Apply

At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.

If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning [phone removed] (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support. 

By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

About us

About Leicestershire County Council

At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that