Social Worker (Children & Families)

Job Advert

Falkirk Council Children’s Services are looking to recruit a permanent Social Worker to the Initial Response Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic, responsive and experienced team that is committed to giving children and their families the support they need when they need it.

IRT is the frontline response service for our Children and Families Social Work Services. We screen all new referrals for unallocated cases to the service from our partner agencies and families. This includes Child Protection referrals and a variety of other work such as children impacted by domestic abuse, substance/alcohol use, children with additional support needs, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Our role is to, not only, screen but action these referrals. We complete an initial assessment over a six-week period to ensure Child’s Plans are complete and identify next steps; including signposting to partner agencies or case transfer to our Locality Teams if longer-term intervention is required.

The work is fast paced, varied and rewarding. We meet families at points of crisis which can be challenging however with that comes opportunity to affect real change.

• Are you an optimistic, flexible and committed Social Worker?
• Do you enjoy finding and building on the strengths of children and their families?
• Do you believe that children who have experienced trauma and disadvantage in their lives have the right to be safe and nurtured and to be listened to, included and respected?
• Do you enjoy creative multi-agency practice and thinking ‘out the box’?
• Do you have excellent written and verbal communication skills?
• Are you able to assess and analyse risk and need and contribute to plans that make a real difference to the lives of children and young people and their families?

Our Closer to Home strategy focusses on improving outcomes for our children and young people and working in partnership to provide quality sustainable services. Our teams are at the forefront of this approach, with relationship and strength-based practice at their core.

In these rewarding and challenging key roles, you would be provided with regular, high-quality support and supervision and developmental opportunities. If you are a newly qualified social worker, we have a specific induction process and peer support group that will support you through your first 12months of qualifying.

Falkirk Council offer a hybrid working arrangement of home/office. We are also open to looking at flexible ways of working including compressed hour arrangements to promote a healthy work/life balance.

We would need you to:

• operate as part of a children and families social work service
• Provide a range of social work services in line with the relevant legislation
• Work in a mobile and flexible manner as part of a team
• Work to meet deadlines
• Use professional judgement and initiative
• Share and analyse information in accordance with Data protection and childcare legislation
• Adhere to the SSSC code of conduct.

It is essential that you hold a DipSw or equivalent social work qualification and are registered with the SSSC.

If you are the successful candidate, you will be required to gain/maintain PVG scheme membership, the cost of which will be met by the preferred candidate.

If you think you have what it takes to join us, please contact Jeanette McKellar-Rennie, Team Manager on 01324 506070 or email; Jeanete.McKellar-Rennie@falkirk,gov.uk for an informal discussion.

Interviews will be held Wednesday 29^th July 2026 at Camelon Social Work Office, Glasgow Road, Camelon.