Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Various locations countywide in Suffolk
• Salary: £34,434 per annum (pro rata for part time hours) (rising to £37,280 per annum) per annum after successful completion of your ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment) Plus a £500 additional payment and retention payments
• Hours: Full or part time hours available

• Contract: Permanent and temporary contracts available

Posts available

• Post 1: Riverside, Lowestoft, 37 hours per week, Permanent (Mental Health North)
• Post 2: Endeavour House, Ipswich, 37 hours per week, Permanent (Mental Health South)
• Post 3: Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich, 37 hours per week, Permanent (Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team)
• Post 4 and 5: Riverside, Lowestoft, 37 hours per week, Permanent (Learning Disability and Autism)
• Post 6: Riverside, Lowestoft, 37 hours per week, Permanent (Waveney)
• Post 7: West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, 37 hours per week, Permanent (Mental Health West)

Join Suffolk's Adult Social Care Services as a Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW), We're actively seeking recent graduates or those approaching qualification who demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting local communities and building effective networks. Suffolk provides a comprehensive ASYE programme to support your first year in practice, designed to be the foundation for a rewarding long-term career with us.

We offer comprehensive support, excellent training opportunities, and structured professional development to help you become the best social worker possible. You don't need to wait until you have your final qualification or SWE registration to apply - we welcome early applications and will support you through the registration process. This is your opportunity to develop your career while making a meaningful difference in Suffolk's communities, supported by a team committed to your professional growth and success.

Your role

You will have the ability and experience to undertake innovative strengths-based assessments and care planning with individuals, carers, and their personal support networks. You will also be open to change, innovative and confident with a focus on strengthening social work; be ambitious about what people can achieve and keen to explore ideas for positive outcomes.

We offer

• Full-time or part-time hours
• Permanent and temporary roles across Suffolk
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Retention payments at 2, 3 and 5 years (£1,000, £1,500 and £2,000)
• 6 protected CPD days
• A strong and diverse training programme
• Supportive and experienced teams
• Clear pathways for development and progression
• An inclusive, creative, and collaborative culture

We are a family-friendly organisation committed to promoting a healthy work–life balance, enabling you to be the best Social Care professional you can be.

If successful in joining the organisation, you will:

• Receive a thorough and supportive induction
• Be supported by peers, mentors, and experienced practitioners
• Have access to extensive training and development opportunities
• Join a cohort of fellow NQSWs completing their ASYE, offering you a network of shared learning and support

Signs of Safety

It is an exciting time to join Adult Social Care in Suffolk, with our ambition titled People at the heart of Care, setting out how we will work to support people to live fulfilling and independent lives in Suffolk. Using our Signs of Safety model as a foundation throughout our service- working with people and their networks using a safety, solution building and trauma responsive approach.

This is your chance to become one of the select few Social Workers worldwide that are trained practicing professionals in Signs of Safety; this will see you stand out from other Social Workers and enable you to develop and progress in your career.

Our approach

We work in strong partnership with health, community, and voluntary sector colleagues to deliver person-centred, strengths-based care planning. Our teams are cohesive, supportive, and committed to continuous improvement, with a strong reputation for transforming services for the better.

The teams

Mental Health: Our Adult Social Care (ASC) Mental Health Service operates countywide, with bases across Suffolk. We are a creative and evolving service, committed to working in the most effective ways for the people we support. As a specialist team working with individuals experiencing functional mental health conditions, we bring extensive knowledge, skills, and experience, along with a strong passion for promoting independence and wellbeing. We work closely with local partners across the health and social care system to deliver high‑quality social work for those also accessing NHS Mental Health Services. This includes fulfilling our statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007).

Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team: REACT is a community‑based service providing rapid assessment and support to people experiencing a short‑term mental health crisis, helping them remain safely at home and avoid unnecessary hospital admission wherever possible. Our practitioners also support the emergency department, working as part of a dynamic, integrated team managing a varied caseload.

This social work role is based both in the community and within the acute hospital setting. The successful applicant will work one Saturday each month and contribute to cover between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. In return, you will receive a thorough induction, regular formal and informal supervision, and access to ongoing training and CPD opportunities.

Applicants must be able to travel from our Ipswich base to visit adults in their homes across Ipswich and East Suffolk. Please note that this is not a hybrid working role.

Learning Disability and Autism: We are also recruiting Social Workers to join our Learning Disability and Autism Service. You will work with individuals with learning disabilities and autism, offering person‑centred support that helps them achieve their goals and thrive within their communities. No two days are the same-whether you are supporting a young person as they transition from hospital to their first home or creating a tailored reablement plan to help someone build connections and independence, you will be making a meaningful and lasting impact.

For more information

For an informal discussion about any of these roles, please contact us by emailing  ASCrecruitment@suffolk.gov.uk and we will give you a call at your convenience.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the G5 Social Worker 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. You should use the  Supporting Statement template (Word)

1. Reflect on how your placement/apprenticeship experiences have prepared you for this Newly Qualified Social Worker role. What were your placements? What key skills and insights did you gain?

2. Please provide an example where you worked with an adult, child or family during a placement, including the legislation or framework you used, how you ensured a person‑or child‑centred assessment, and how you worked in partnership to promote independence and positive outcomes.

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, 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.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed.

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 If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 31 May 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 checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.