Social Worker – Connecting Families

Connecting families are a team within the Children in Care service in Durham. The team supports families of children who are subject to a Section 31 Care Order. The team’s primary focus is on safely reconnecting children with their parents or birth family. Reunification involves more than simply returning a child to their parents, it requires support to make this successful.

Our team works alongside Family Group Conferencing, Supporting Solutions, Connected Care and Early Help to strengthen the support we offer to families, with the child at the heart of everything we do.

In March 2025, Durham Children’s Service was rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with social workers describing the environment as a great place to work.

If you have recently qualified and are looking to start your social work career in Durham, we would still love to hear from you.

The role requires you to work closely with families to formulate appropriate exit plans for children, resulting in applications being made to court to discharge the Care Order and formally end the family’s involvement with Children’s Services. You will complete discharge statements to court, demonstrating the good progress families have made since the original care proceedings. The role demands the ability to write timely, high‑standard assessments to be filed to court, excellent communication skills, and a relationship‑based practice that fully involves families in decisions about their children.

Relationships with children and their families will be very important to you. You will spend quality time with children in our care, understand their views and life events, and use a trauma‑informed, strength‑based approach informed by the Signs of Safety framework to support the child in understanding and recovering from what has happened.

• Degree in social work or an equivalent qualification (e.g., Post‑Graduate Diploma in Social Work, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, Diploma in Social Work, Certificate in Social Services).
• Current Social Work England registration.
• Successful completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).

Social workers who complete the ASYE are eligible for a recruitment/retention allowance of £2,500 over 12 months (pro‑rated for part‑time).

We offer a rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years of continuous local government service), a contributory local government pension scheme, flexible working arrangements (including hybrid working where applicable) and a range of training opportunities. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

Durham County Council operates a hybrid working policy of two days in the workplace and three days at home/remote, prorated for part‑time roles. Managers may allow you to work all hours within the workplace if you wish.

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and provide support throughout the recruitment process.

Applicants will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including the Children’s Barred List, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to show how you meet the essential criteria. Applications not meeting the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. Please also refer to our website for guidance on completing your application.