Social Worker (Children's Services) - Support & Intervention Team - EAL10439

Vacancy Information

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of appropriate relevant experience and qualifications and salary placed within the advertised scale.

Hourly rate of pay: £20.41-£22.74

Days and hours of work:
Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00
Working days are negotiable, flexi time is applicable, and starting and finishing times are flexible.
To start asap.

East Lothian Children’s Services have an exciting opportunity for a social worker to join the Support and Intervention Team. The team consists of 3 team leaders, senior practitioners, social workers and administrative support. Our Support and Intervention Team is dedicated in supporting children and families to have better outcomes in life.

Children’s Services is located in an open plan office with onsite parking. We promote an open, trusting and communicative culture at all levels.

Applicants should have a sound value base, excellent communication and report writing skills and a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Child Protection processes and making permanent plans for children, a knowledge about Children and Families social work legislation, roles and responsibilities. In East Lothian our social workers practice is focused on the Signs of Safety assessment framework with an emphasis on relationship-based interventions.

Working in supportive teams you will have a varied and complex caseload which includes children who are looked after at and away from home and will strive to make permanent plans in a timely basis. You will undertake direct work with children and their families, working closely with our dedicated Family Support Work and Intensive Outreach Team. 

East Lothian Children’s Services are absolutely committed to keeping The Promise and keeping children, young people and their families’ voices at the heart of everything we do. East Lothian Children’s Services are keen to recruit workers who are passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for children, young people and their families.

We are committed to promoting an open and trusting culture at all levels of the organisation and prioritise continuous professional development and learning. Our staff are our greatest asset, and we strive to be supportive, inclusive and child centred by prioritising effective supervision, manageable and protected caseloads and a healthy work life balance.

Our vision is to support children and young people to live with their families when it is safe to do so. We have redesigned our services to ensure that the right support is offered at the right time and our staff are involved in developing services and implementing improvement activity around this goal.

We benefit from access to a clinical psychologist who supports our staff with complex work. We recognise the emotional impact of the role and strive to promote staff resilience.

We have an accessible senior management team who are committed to recruiting the best people to compliment the wide range of knowledge and experience throughout the service.

Our dedication is evident through our recent Care Inspection which is available online.

If you wish to discuss this vacancy, please contact the recruitment manager: Kerryann Bell on

Job Details

To provide an effective service to vulnerable children, young people and their families/carers, promoting a high standard of practice, in accordance with statutory obligations, policies and procedures. 

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Education/Qualifications
Essential: Approved qualification in Social Work, and SSSC registration.
Those with international Social Work qualifications should not apply unless they are fully registered with the SSSC.

Driving Licence
Full current driving licence and access to a vehicle*
(*Where a disability precludes you from obtaining a driving licence, ELC will take into account its responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to allow for your disability).

PVG/Disclosure Requirements
This post is considered as Regulated Work with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call , or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form.