Social Worker, Family Advocacy & Support Services

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

Full Time, Permanent

"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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

Our social workers benefit from working in small, collaborative teams led by…