Advanced Children's Practitioner

We are currently recruiting for Social Workers and Senior Social Workers across Gloucestershire's six localities:
Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean, Stroud, Cotswolds. As a Social Worker, you will deliver a first‑class service to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people, building positive relationships with colleagues and partner agencies to provide support and protection for those in need and at risk.

• Social Work England/Wales registration
• Recognised qualification in Social Work
• Completed Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), if qualified after 2012
• Full driving licence and willingness to drive
• DBS clearance (Enhanced Adults and Children)

• Salary: £39,152 – £40,777 per annum for a Social Worker; £41,771 – £47,181 per annum for a Senior Social Worker, subject to experience
• Welcome payment of £4,000
• Annual retention payment of £2,000
• Up to £8,000 relocation package
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Annual leave: 25.5 days, rising to 30.5 days after 5 years continuous service
• Option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro‑rata for part‑time staff)
• Family‑friendly policies and benefits
• Supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – free, confidential counselling & advice 24/7 online & by telephone
• In‑house Occupational Health service
• Employee discount scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) and the Young Employees Network
• Career development and qualification opportunities
• Access to our Social Work Academy
• Paid SWE registration renewal

In our recent inspection in June 2025, our Children's Services were officially judged as ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ elements. Ofsted praised our leaders for setting a clear vision, modelling values, creating a culture where the workforce, children and families feel valued and heard, and managing risk confidently. We remain focused on building on this success to ensure every child and young person in our county has the opportunity to thrive.

Gloucestershire offers a range of opportunities to develop your career, supported by a phenomenal Social Work Academy, developing systemic practice methodology, an ambitious leadership team and an award‑winning workforce. We are a local authority adopting, and training all colleagues in, systemic social work practice. If you would like to be part of an authority that takes a relational approach to working with families and focuses on what needs to change in the system around a child and family to enable children to thrive, then consider a role with GCC.

Our team structures are designed to ensure there is the right level of support available to staff, and caseloads are kept at a manageable level with a Team Manager, Advanced Practitioner, 4 Social Workers and an NQSW making up each team's full complement of staff. We need resilient, driven individuals who will play their part in making our vision for Children’s Services a success.

You will be joining an authority with a strong set of values that underpin the work we do:
Accountability, Empowerment, Excellence, Integrity and Respect.