Bracknell Forest Council • Bracknell, Berkshire
About this role
Would you like to join an outstanding authority, where you will be a valued member of a team, experience high quality training, supervision and a manageable workload?
At Bracknell Forest, you will get the support you need, when you need it because; we value you and invest in you so that you flourish and have the tools, experiences, and support to do your job well!
Our Children’s Social Care service is proudly Outstanding in all areas (Ofsted, December 2025), with inspectors calling our practitioners “effusive about working in Bracknell” and praising our highly effective Social Work Academy.
About you…
You will hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. You will have successfully completed your ASYE and have experience of frontline social work which includes child in need and child protection.
You will be passionate about relational social work and committed in joining our embedded culture and ethos of bettering vulnerable children’s lives. You will be committed to understanding the lived experiences of children being a fierce advocate for children and providing the support required to better childhood experiences.
To thrive in this role, you will bring an understanding of the relevant legislation, guidance, policies and thresholds that underpin safeguarding. You will have experience of effective multi‑agency working, building partnerships and co‑producing needs‑led safety plans for children and young people. You will be able to demonstrate your analytical skills, ability to assess information, identify actions and record timely accurate information.
If you would like an informal chat or a tour of the office before submitting your application, please contact helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk and we will be happy to arrange a suitable time.
About the team and children’s social care
In December 2025, Ofsted concluded that “since the last inspection, leaders, managers and practitioners have not only sustained outstanding services but have raised the bar even higher”.
We use the Family Safeguarding Model in our approach to collaborate with families to keep them together, where it is safe to do so, supported by Motivational Interviewing (MI). December 2025 Ofsted recognised our model “operates consistently and effectively” and “embraces a relational approach, with explicit commitment to understanding the culture and diverse needs of families”.
Children experiencing neglect or domestic abuse receive exceptional and expert in-house specialist help. They work closely with the family safeguarding team and offer step-by-step help to parents to improve home conditions and strengthen parenting capacity.
When risks escalate our conscientious managers take decisive action and with you with focus on the lived experience of children. Permanence planning meetings secure “timely decision-making, enabling children to thrive” and “Social workers consider all permanence options for children and contingency planning is in place so that children are offered the best permanence option”.
Social workers were recognised by inspectors as “committed to understanding the lived experiences of children and responding “to help them have improved home conditions and better childhood experiences”. Families are positive about their experiences with social workers, and we know practitioners are having a positive impact in supporting families.
We are a small, welcoming and friendly local authority where you will have the opportunity to build strong, positive and supportive working relationships with colleagues and peers. You will be a valued member of the team, where you will feel connected, appreciated, heard, accepted, included and supported.
Key responsibilities…
Develop and implement effective safeguarding plans to protect children from harm.
To work alongside other professionals as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
To manage a caseload of Child in Need, Child Protection, Care Proceedings and Children Looked After.
To take part in the team duty system responding to concerns as and when they arise.
To make effective use of time and be able to prioritise workload, ensuring timeliness in visiting, report writing and other deadlines.
To participate in regular reflective supervision and be able to set clear goals and intervention strategies.
To develop and maintain accurate case records and comply with the department's policies, procedures and guidelines including data protection and GDPR.
Interview date
Shortlisting will take place on a weekly basis, and candidates who are successfully shortlisted will be offered an interview at least seven days later. Interviews will be held in person, giving you the opportunity to meet the team and get a real feel for our working environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and may close the advert early if we identify suitable candidates. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact
Maggie Mandecka, Team Manager, Maggie.Mandecka@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
or
Helen Gore, Principal Social Worker, Helen.gore@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.