Social Worker at Suffolk County in Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Info Bar, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2DH
• Salary: £38,510 - £42,123 per annum (pro rata for part time) plus £4,000 annual retention payment (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Fixed term for up to 2 years (secondment cover)

Suffolk County Council are focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people learning from what they say and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things. As a Social Worker in the Suffolk Youth Justice Service, you will be as passionate about collaboration and building brighter futures as we are. Join us to make a meaningful impact and take the next step in a truly rewarding career. You will be part of a highly skilled, regulated workforce, making a real difference every day, supporting children, families, victims, and communities, while promoting rights, resilience, and positive futures.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

We are looking for passionate professionals to join our team and make a real difference through youth rehabilitation. In this role, you will:

• deliver innovative rehabilitation and intervention programs
• support young people and their families to prevent youth offending and promote positive change
• engage with victims of youth offences
• provide court support services, including weekends and bank holidays (once trained and as required)
• contribute to community safety initiatives
• work as part of a close-knit, motivated, and supportive team
• collaborate with specialist services and multi-agency networks
• build strong connections with challenging young people
• demonstrate resilience, flexibility, and a belief in the power of rehabilitation
• apply professional curiosity, assessment and analytical skills
• commit to youth justice reform.

You will need

• A recognised Social Work qualification and registration or be a qualified and experienced Probation Officer with post-qualification practice experience.

• Proven experience of working with children and young people.

• Strong information-gathering, assessment and analytical skills.

• A commitment to continuous professional development and learning.

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to have a driving licence and access to personal transport. If you feel you can meet these travel requirements through other suitable means, please contact the Hiring Manager before applying to discuss.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Suffolk Youth Justice Service (SYJS) works with children and young people who are in, or at risk of entering, the Youth Justice System.

We also support parents, carers, and victims of youth crime, operating as a multi-agency partnership hosted by Suffolk County Council.

Our core aim is to:

• prevent offending by children and young people
• protect the public from harm caused by youth offending
• promote the safety, wellbeing, and future aspirations of the young people we work with.

SYJS operates 7 days a week, including evenings until 9pm, and conducts home visits to meet national standards and legislative requirements.

As part of the role, you will be expected to:

• Occasionally work evenings and weekends, for which you will be entitled to flexi time or Time Off in Lieu (TOIL).
• Participate in a Saturday rota, for which you will receive additional payment or TOIL, depending on your preference.

Additional Benefits

• up to 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays per annum, pro rata for part time
• an uplift of 3 additional annual leave days, pro rata for part time
• 3 protected CPD days per annum
• free on-site car parking in all council buildings
• flexible working options and our commitment to supporting health and wellbeing
• detailed induction programme, including mandatory Signs of Safety training
• staff networks which are open to staff, councillors and partners that share similar characteristics, life experiences, values and beliefs.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Emma Tongue for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473260183 or 07732603646 or emailing Emma.tongue@suffolk.gov.uk

If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

1. Tell us about a time when you successfully engaged a child who was reluctant to work with professionals.

2. Describe a situation where you were concerned about a child’s safety or safety of others.

3. Give an example of when you worked with partner agencies to achieve a better outcome for a child.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 3 November 2026
Interview date: Week beginning 9 November 2026

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid