Social Worker – Family Support and Safeguarding – South Oxfordshire with certificate of sponsorship to the UK

Visa Note

This position includes a certificate of sponsorship for eligible international candidates. However, applicants must verify their visa eligibility requirements directly with the employer before applying. The certificate of sponsorship will be provided to successful candidates who meet the necessary criteria for working in the UK.

Job Details

Company: Oxfordshire County Council

Location: South Oxfordshire

Salary: £38,220 to £49,282 per year

Schedule: Full-time

Employment Type: Permanent

Language: English

Application Deadline: 13 March 2026

Reference Number: VP8A998E60

About Oxfordshire County Council

Oxfordshire County Council is a financially stable local authority committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families. We are shaping children’s social care for the future and have been consistently rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted. Our Children, Education, & Families directorate is dedicated to delivering lasting change by helping children, young people, and families in Oxfordshire thrive.

We pride ourselves on our restorative, relational practice approach that emphasizes building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths. As an employer, we value diversity and inclusion, ensuring everyone is accepted for who they are regardless of background or circumstances.

Job Summary

We are seeking a qualified and experienced Social Worker to join our Family Support and Safeguarding team in South Oxfordshire. In this role, you will manage a caseload tailored to your experience, ensuring that children’s and their families’ voices are heard, and their needs are met.

You will work with families using FSS Workbook modules and a strengths-based approach, ensuring the Assistant/Team Manager is kept fully appraised of significant information. The position requires you to provide high-quality services that integrate government and local guidance and initiatives, including Children Acts 1989 & 2004, Working Together, local Child Protection and Looked After Children procedures, and the DoH Assessment Framework 2000.

Main Duties of the Job

As a qualified experienced Social Worker, you will possess good working knowledge of services relevant to children, young people, families, carers, groups and partner agencies. You will have a good understanding of safeguarding, relevant legislation, guidance, policy and procedures, and values and principles of FSS.

You will be responsible for preparing and submitting written reports as required, including child protection conference reports and legal reports for care proceedings. You will have the confidence to undertake child and family assessments for allocated families and investigate allegations of harm or neglect under s47 Children Act 1989 when required.

By efficiently using ICT, you will maintain accurate case records and record activity in line with key performance management data. It will be beneficial to have working knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and the cycle of change and their application in social work with children and families.

Your supportive and energized nature will help you chair meetings and proactively engage with partner agencies. It is essential that you are able to travel to visit clients and attend meetings over a wide area and at short notice.

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential: Please refer to job description above.

Desirable: Please refer to job description above.

Benefits and Rewards

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to attract and retain talented social workers:

• Welcome and Loyalty payment of £3,500
• Relocation allowance of up to £8,000 for eligible candidates
• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays)
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24×7
• Range of family-friendly policies
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme
• Range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities
• Excellent learning and development opportunities

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council, we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

We operate Guaranteed Interview Schemes for disabled applicants, care leavers, and those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life, demonstrating our commitment to diversity and equal opportunities.

How to Apply

Apply Instructions: Apply via NHS Jobs website. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

International Applicants Checklist:

• Verify your visa eligibility with UK Visas and Immigration
• Prepare criminal record certificates from any country where you have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
• Ensure you have current UK professional registration if required
• Contact the recruiter directly with any questions about sponsorship

Contact Information

For questions about the job:

Contact: Sandra Benaite (Recruiter)

Email: VP8A998E60.1286@vacancyposter.com

Phone: 01865816000

Employer Website: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/

Safeguarding Commitment

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these safeguarding commitments.

Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part-time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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Technical Support

If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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