Qualified social worker jobs & social work vacancies
We specialise in finding roles for qualified social workers on a temporary, permanent and interim basis across child and adult social care.
Looking to take the next step in your qualified social workers career?
We have specialists across the UK looking for talented professionals. Speak to a member of our team today.
Meet the team
We know social worker jobs
For over 60 years, Reed has been sourcing the best social worker jobs for qualified social workers (QSWs) across the UK. Every day, adult’s social workers and children’s social workers support millions of people to help change lives for the better. Social worker jobs are about people, and at Reed, our experts in QSW will partner collaboratively with you to protect people, enable positive change, and ultimately improve lives.
With our local knowledge, expertise and passion for getting people into a social work career, we specialise in recruiting high-calibre, trained social workers like you. And, by choosing to work with us, you will have access to a range of social worker jobs, with flexible working options that suit your lifestyle. From temporary assignments to permanent full-time contracts, or ad hoc and specialist assessment work, our dedicated teamwork with you to find the social worker job that offers you the perfect balance.
Reed has offices across the UK, so our specialists can find you the perfect social worker job on your doorstep. As experts in the field, we’re a top tier supplier to many local authorities, charities, the private sector and the NHS.
Our specialist QSW recruiters will support you throughout your job in social work and wider social work career journey by offering comprehensive training, CPD help, networking opportunities and peer support.
Reed is committed to the wellbeing and safety of all our social workers and clients, so when choosing to work temporarily or on an interim basis with us, we will provide you with a dedicated candidate care consultant to support, listen and advocate for you on assignment – whatever social worker vacancy you are in.
Children's services
We understand that when working to help safeguard the most vulnerable people in society, it can be hard, yet rewarding work. Whether you’re looking for a children’s social worker job on a temporary or permanent basis, your local children’s services expert will work with you to find the right child social worker role to meet your skills and experience.
We know that caseloads can be high in children’s services. Your dedicated recruitment specialist will work collaboratively with you, as a children’s social worker, to ensure any roles we recommend for you have manageable caseloads and the right support mechanisms in place to assist you.
If you are looking for a social work job or social work manager role, then we can help you – whatever area you specialise in:
Children with disabilities, social worker jobs: we have a wide array of temporary, permanent and project opportunities as a children’s social worker which includes looking after those with sensory disabilities, learning disabilities and those in need of autism assessments.
Family support, social worker jobs: we have a range of jobs in this field that cover all aspects of child in need.
Fostering, children’s social work jobs: our specialists have expertise and experience in fostering, adoption, local authorities, independent fostering agencies (IFAs) and regional adoption agencies (RAAs).
Looked after children (LAC), social work jobs: we specialise in recruiting for LAC social worker job opportunities, so whether looking to work with children in care or children leaving care, our experts can help you find the perfect role.
Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub social worker jobs: we specialise in MASH jobs across the UK, so if you’re looking for a job in this practice, our social work recruiters can help.
Our children’s services experts can also help you find a role in audit, quality assurance, or as an independent reviewing officer.
Adult services
At Reed, we have a track record of matching adult social workers with the right organisation, whether that be a local authority, NHS trust, private healthcare, or charity.
We are best placed to help you find the perfect adult social care jobs across a number of specialist areas, including, but not exclusive to:
Safeguarding adult’s social work jobs: whether looking for a temporary, permanent or project-based role our experts can find you the right adult social worker safeguarding job to fit in with your needs.
Hospital discharge adult social worker jobs: responsible for ensuring the safe and timely discharge from hospital, hospital discharge social workers are vital, we can help match you to the perfect role in your local area.
Community social worker jobs: as a community social worker you are important in making communities function, that’s why it’s imperative to find the right community social worker job for you. Whether you work with individuals conducting needs assessments and make referrals to resources in the community, or are looking for more of a community builder/organiser role, our experts can help.
Mental health social worker jobs: we can help you find a role that enables you to empower individuals suffering from mental illness, as well as helping to support their families. Whether you are looking for a role in forensics or as part of a community mental health team (CMHT), or experts work with a range of organisations across the UK.
Disabilities social work jobs: whether working with adults with learning our physical disabilities, we can match you to the perfect employer to where you can help support individuals to live independently as well as offering a helping hand to their families.
Our adult social work experts are located across the country and work closely with you to take the next step in your career. Whether you’re looking for a temporary, permanent or interim role, locally or further afield, for a social worker or senior manager position, we will work alongside you to find your perfect match.
Your dedicated expert will guide you throughout the process, from providing CV advice to suggesting interview techniques. And if you are working with us on a temporary or interim basis, you will also be assigned a dedicated candidate care consultant to support, listen and advocate for you on assignment in your adult social work role.
Interim & senior management
Reed is well-versed in the recruitment of interim and permanent senior management social work jobs for local authorities, NHS and the third sector.
Our access to some of the UK’s top social work service providers allows us to help you take the next step in your career with an organisation that meets your needs. Whether you are looking for a role as head of service or assistant director, your qualified social worker executive search specialist will work with you to match your knowledge, skill set and ethos to the right organisation and executive social worker job.
Alternatively, if you are an independent reviewer, we can match you with several organisations looking to examine their social care service. Whatever role you’re looking for, your local specialist can work with you to make sure your next career move is the right one.
Refer your friends or colleagues for qualified social work roles, we pay £250 for each successful referral
Why choose Reed
At Reed we have access to exclusive social worker jobs across the UK, designed to provide you with exceptional opportunities in the field of social work.
We understand the importance of your profession and the significant impact you make on individuals and communities. Our carefully curated job listings offer a diverse range of positions, each tailored to match your unique skills and interests.
Join our exclusive network of social workers and embark on a fulfilling career where you can truly make a difference.
We take pride in offering a wide array of social work roles, with a multitude of employers to choose from. Our extensive network of employers spans across various sectors, including healthcare, education, local and central government and non-profit organisations.
This broad range of employers ensures that we can cater to diverse interests and specialties within the field of social work. Whether you aspire to work with vulnerable populations, advocate for social justice, or promote mental health and wellbeing, Reed's vast selection of social work roles allows you to explore different settings, populations, and areas of focus.
We strive to empower you with options, enabling you to find the perfect match that aligns with your professional goals and personal values. With Reed, your possibilities in the world of social work are limitless.
Reed stands out among our competitors due to our unparalleled expertise in the field of qualified social work. We have built a team of professionals who possess extensive knowledge and experience in the social work sector.
Our dedicated team of recruiters is well-versed in the latest trends, research, and best practices in the field, ensuring that we provide up-to-date information and guidance to both job seekers and employers.
We actively collaborate with renowned social work organisations and experts to stay at the forefront of advancements and emerging areas within the profession. This commitment to expertise allows us to offer comprehensive support, valuable resources, and insightful career advice that goes above and beyond the services provided by our competitors. With Reed, you can trust that you are accessing the most reliable and cutting-edge knowledge in the field of social work, empowering you to make informed decisions and excel in your career.
We understand the importance of personalised support when looking for a social work job, which is why we provide you with a dedicated consultant who works tirelessly to find the best social work job opportunities for you.
Our consultants are seasoned professionals with in-depth knowledge of the social work sector and a passion for helping individuals like you succeed. They take the time to understand your unique skills, interests, and career aspirations, ensuring that the job opportunities they present align with your goals. With their expertise and guidance, they navigate our extensive network of employers, carefully matching you with positions that suit your qualifications and preferences.
Your dedicated Reed consultant serves as your advocate, providing valuable advice, interview preparation, and ongoing support throughout your job search journey. They are committed to your success and dedicated to finding you the perfect social work job opportunity that will empower you to make a meaningful impact in your profession.
Hear from our candidates...
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Connect with our expert consultants today to progress your career.
Securing your next role...
A hiring manager’s job interview tips for qualified social workers
Reaching the first job interview stage means you’ve already impressed the employer, so how do you convince them you’re the best qualified social worker for the role? Social care Project Manager Steve met Reed’s Adam Noott, Practice Lead to discuss what he looks for when interviewing social workers.
Read more
CV-writing tips to secure temporary social work (with example CV)
Writing a CV can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. In this blog, we provide you with advice and an example CV to help you create the stand-out CV to secure temporary social work roles.
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The path to success in phone interviews
With telephone interviews becoming more commonplace in the absence of face-to-face interviews, the following tips will help you progress to the next stage of the process.
Read moreLatest social work news...
Social Work England: the re-registration process for social workers 2023
Philippa Geddes, the Regional Engagement Lead for South West England at Social Work England, hosted a session with Reed's qualified social workers division on the re-registration process for social workers.
Read more
Educational psychology forum: Penny Fogg, University of Sheffield, on the silencing of ‘mad mothers’.
“The ‘madness of mother’, as it is constructed, is actually a discourse of social control.” – Penny Fogg, Associate Tutor at the University of Sheffield, shares her findings on the treatment of mothers when advocating for their children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Read more
Social workers continue to be in high demand
Abhishek Paul, Divisional Manager - Qualified Social Workers at Reed, examines the trends which will shape qualified social work salaries and benefits offerings in 2023.
Read moreCase studies
Adoption Counts
We recruited two experienced, independent assessors within an urgent timeframe for the adoption service, fostering a new relationship because of our efficient and co-operative level of service.
Sefton Council
Despite a limited talent pool in a niche market, Reed sourced qualified social workers on behalf of Sefton Council on a temporary basis, with the client taking some of them on permanently.
Reed’s consistent, high quality care service improves the lives of young care recipient and his family - Case study
Reed’s care provision for a child with multiple health and social care needs helps him to fulfil his potential and provides his family with crucial respite.
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Frequently asked questions
To become a qualified social worker, you need to first obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work (BA/BSc) approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This typically takes three years to complete.
Following that, consider pursuing a master’s degree in social work (MA/MSW) to enhance your knowledge and skills. Once you have completed your education, you will need to register with the HCPC, which is a legal requirement to practice as a social worker in the UK. You will need to meet their specific criteria and provide necessary documentation.
An alternative route to becoming a qualified social worker is through an apprenticeship, where you can start working and earn while you qualify. You will need four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 and A-Levels, or equivalent, to do a social worker level 6 degree apprenticeship, which also takes around three years to complete.
Social workers are in high demand in the UK due to a variety of factors, such as the complexities of social issues, an ageing population, and the need to support vulnerable individuals and communities.
The Covid-19 pandemic has further intensified the demand for social workers. It brought challenges like increased mental health issues, domestic violence cases, and financial difficulties. Social workers have played a crucial role in providing remote assessments, ensuring safety, and coordinating resources, making their role even more crucial in navigating these challenging times.
There is no age limit to becoming a qualified social worker, and many professionals decide to enter this career later in life. As long as you have met the entry requirements, have the necessary qualifications, and are able to undertake the demands of the role, then your age is irrelevant.
To become a social worker, you must be registered with Social Work England, and to do that you will need to successfully complete an approved degree or postgraduate programme in social work. Courses typically take three-to-four years, full time.
If you choose to go down the apprenticeship route, you will need to apply for an apprentice position with a health care provider. You will usually need level 3 qualifications to get accepted.
The entry requirements to becoming a social worker are two or three A-Levels, along with five GCSEs (grades 4-9), including English and maths, or equivalent. You will also need an undergraduate degree.
If you already have a degree in a different subject, you could either undertake a postgraduate qualification in social work, train through ‘Step up to Social Work’ which takes 14 months and combines work and study, apply for the Frontline 2-year programme combining study with supervised practical work in child protection, or apply for the 2-year Think Ahead fast-track scheme to become a mental health social worker which blends academic learning with extensive on-the-job experience.
You will need experience of working with clients - this can be from paid or voluntary work. Or it could be from your own life experience, for example, as a carer for a friend or relative.
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