North Devon
We’re looking for passionate and skilled Experienced Social Workers to join our Adult Services teams in North Devon. You’ll be part of a supportive service that values strong social work practice, promotes independence, and puts people at the heart of everything we do.
Whether you have experience across complex care, safeguarding, reablement, or mental capacity work, you’ll find opportunities here to grow, contribute, and make a real difference.
About the role
Working as an Experienced Social Worker in Adults Services, you will:
Use a strengths-based, person-centred approach to support adults to maximise independence and choice.
Complete complex assessments using a range of health and social care tools, including Care Act assessments and contributions to CHC processes.
Apply the Mental Capacity Act, including the two stage test and Best Interest decision-making.
Identify and promote enablement and reablement opportunities.
Lead and complete safeguarding enquiries, including complex or whole service concerns.
Work collaboratively with health partners, voluntary sector organisations and multi-disciplinary teams.
Undertake work relating to the Court of Protection, including making applications for authorisation of deprivations of liberty in the community where required.
Maintain accurate, timely and reflective case records.
Mentor students, NQSWs and less experienced colleagues, supporting their development and modelling best practice.
Contribute to service development and continuous improvement.
About you
You will be:
A registered Social Worker with Social Work England.
Experienced in adult social care practice, including risk assessment, safeguarding, care planning and partnership working.
Knowledgeable about relevant legal and policy frameworks including the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act.
Skilled at communicating with adults, families and professionals with clarity, empathy and confidence.
Able to work autonomously, manage a varied caseload and make sound professional decisions.
Committed to reflective practice and ongoing professional development.
A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is required (reasonable adjustments considered).
Why choose Devon County Council?
A supportive culture that values professional judgment and wellbeing
Regular reflective supervision
A strong commitment to CPD
Flexible and hybrid working
Local Government Pension Scheme
Beautiful coastal and rural communities to work in across North Devon
If you’re committed to delivering high-quality adult social care and want to make a meaningful impact in Ilfracombe, South Molton, Barnstaple, Torrington or Bideford, we’d love to hear from you.
Does the job role include personal care?: No
Working Patterns:
TBC
Essential details:
Social Worker Career Pathway
We have implemented the first phase of a new Social Worker Career Pathway within our Adults Services, with our vacancies available at the Social Worker (Grade F) or Experienced Social Worker (Grade G) levels. Our Social Worker and Experienced Social Worker roles align with the national Professional Capability Framework (PCF) for Social Workers, which provides a robust structure for all local authorities to use as a way of standardising professional capabilities and provides a clear career pathway.
This is a fantastic opportunity to provide you with an achievable, clear pathway for your career; to enable you as a practitioner to reflect and identify your own practice and development on the PCF pathway.
If successful in being shortlisted for interview, your experience, skills and knowledge, will be assessed against the PCF domains and if found appointable, this will determine your appointment to either the Social Worker (Grade F) or Experienced Social Worker level (Grade G).
With on-going learning and support from your line manager, those appointed as a Social Worker will be able to evidence incremental learning and submit an application in due course for progression to the Experienced Social Worker (Grade G) via a portfolio of supporting evidence against the PCF framework.
What we can offer you
We are committed to your continuous professional development, doing all we can to help you to get the most from your career. You will receive excellent support and supervision, with regular opportunities to discuss and reflect on your practice, both with your line manager and peers.
We offer 26 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays, rising incrementally to 31 days after 5 years’ service.
Flexible working opportunities are available, these include part-time hours, flexitime, compressed working hours and homeworking (this is subject to the needs of the role – please discuss at further at interview)
Offer an opportunity to enter a generous Local Government Pension Scheme.
As a place to live and work, Devon is hard to beat with top-performing schools, universities, vibrant cities, pretty villages and some of the most scenic coast and countryside in the UK. Living and working in Devon as a Social Worker has never been more attractive.
Please note: At this time, we are unable to consider overseas applications.
For an informal discussion please contact Casey Symons via email on casey.symons@devon.gov.uk
How to apply
Please ensure when completing your application form that you provide a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria as described in the person specification of the job description. Applications may not be taken forwards if the supporting statement is not adequately completed.
Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service details to log in and apply.
Grade F - Click here to view the job description
Grade G - Click here to view the job description
DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
Happy to Talk Flexible Working- The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required. For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
This role requires a DBS disclosure.
This role requires Social Work England Registration (SWE).