Trainee Social Worker (3 vacancies - Caithness / Mid Ross / Lochaber)

Job Description

Post Title: Trainee Social Worker 2 (3 vacancies; Various services/Locations)
Hours: 35 hours per week
Duration: Permanent
Salary: £32,596 - £36,145 per annum*
*Salary placing will normally be at the first point of the scale.

Locations

1 x Child Health and Disability Team), Mid Ross (Based in Dingwall)
1 x Lochaber Care and Protection Team (based in Fort William)
1 x Caithness Care and Protection Team (based in Wick)

The above posts are open to applications from both internal and external applicants, but the following post is also available to internal applicants only:

[Insert link here]

Please APPLY USING THE ATTACHED APPLICATION FORMS. Send your completed forms (Parts 1-5) via e-mail to Louise.Smith at louise.smith@highland.gov.uk

Interested applicants are encouraged to attend the joint enquiry event we run with Shelley Buckley, Staff tutor, Open University and one of our current Trainee Social Workers. This event will be held via MS Teams and will be recorded. This event covers eligibility for application, both UG and PG programmes as well as details of the scheme, study leave, placements etc plus is an opportunity to speak with one of our current Trainee Social Workers. This Enquiry Event will be held via MS Teams on Wednesday 27^th May 2026; 11am-12:30pm. Anyone wishing to attend please email Louise Smith for an invite. Louise.smith@highland.gov.uk

Please note that interviews will be held in person, in Inverness on the week commencing 29^th June 2026.

Contact Details: Louise Smith Email: Louise.Smith@highland.gov.uk

Job Purpose:

• To actively contribute to the provision of Children’s Services using the
  Family 1st/ GIRFEC/Highland Practice Model approach.
• To take responsibility to be motivated and committed to fully meeting the
  requirements of the Social Work Honours Degree programme or
  Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. This will require a self-directed,
  proactive learning approach
• To work in restoratively and in partnership with children and their families
  to maintain and develop effective relationships to help them make
  informed decisions and meet their needs. To ensure children, young
  people and their families and carers voices are consistently included in
  assessment, analysis and planning, review to ensure better outcomes.
• To provide a Social Work Service to children with disabilities and complex
  health needs. (Child Health and Disability Team)

The Highland Council understands that diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity and being fair and inclusive. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, representative of the communities we serve and particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be under-represented in our workforce.

As a disability confident employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria requirements for the post.

Prior to confirming appointment, we will require successful candidates to become members of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.

Short listed applicants will normally be contacted by email, unless otherwise stated. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam folder.

Requirements

• The equivalent of Nat 5 Mathematics and English. (The Open University have a numeracy test that meets the requirements if necessary). A HNC meets the English requirement for Undergraduate entry, (application can be made for credit transfer). Successful completion of one of the Open University Stage 1 modules, (DD102 Introducing the Social Sciences and K102 Introducing Health and Social Care), also meets the English requirement.
• The equivalent of at least one year of experience of work (paid or unpaid) in a social care environment.
• The academic requirement for entry at Postgraduate level is a Degree in a cognate discipline. A Degree from a UK university meets the English requirement for Postgraduate entry.The equivalent of at least one year of experience of work (paid or unpaid) in a social care environment
• Suitability for registration with the SSSC on the Student Social Worker part of the register. Compliance with the SSSC code of practice.
• Ability to meet the demands of an Honours Degree Social Work programme/ Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work by distance learning
• You will be expected to travel efficiently and effectively between various work locations within Highland to meet the operational requirements of the Service