Newly Qualified Social Worker

Posting date:	19 February 2026
Salary:	£38,220.00 to £45,091.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£38220.00 - £45091.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	21 March 2026
Location:	Oxford, OX1 1ND
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	F0069-26-0043

Summary

Together, were shaping childrens social care for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire. In our Children, Education, & Families directorate, werecommittedto delivering lasting change, by helping the children, young people, and families of Oxfordshire to thrive.We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach. Weve been consistently rated as good by Ofsted, but we are not content with that; we areambitiousand want to do even better!Were a financially stable local authority which iscommittedto investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the families we work with including successful operation of our transformational model Family Safeguarding Model. Together, were the moment makers and were focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, youll look around and say, I make a difference. Because were all creating lasting change to peoples lives in Oxfordshire. Everyday youll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. Were not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives. We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself while raising the bar for the future of childrens social care. Are you in? About Us Are you aNewly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW)ready to take the next step in your career?We are excited to invite applications for ourAssessed andSupportedYear in Employment (ASYE)programme within Oxfordshire County CouncilsSocial Work Professional Development Centre. We created this centre because we believe that investing in andsupportingNQSWs is essential to building a strong, stable workforce and delivering outstanding services to children and families across Oxfordshire. The role of a childrens social worker is both challenging and rewardinga true privilege. We know that the rightsupportduring your first year of practice will give you the confidence and skills to thrive in your career. What We Offer Astructured ASYE programmedesigned to provide a safe,supportiveenvironment for your first year in practice. Aprotected caseloadand a gradual increase in responsibilities as your confidence grows. Apersonalised development plan, tailored to your learning needs, with regular progress reviews. Access to ourcompetency framework, aligned with Oxfordshire County Councils guiding principles for strengths-based practice. Opportunities to join a variety of teams acrossChildrens Social Care. At Oxfordshire County Council, we are astrengths-based servicefocused onsupportingfamilies to keep children safe and achieve lasting change.Our approach is rooted inrelationship-based practiceandmotivational interviewing, ensuring families are engaged and empowered throughout the process. Why Join Us? We arecommittedto providing a thoughtful, scaffolded learning experience where every NQSW feelssupportedand valued.Our goal is to help you become aconfident, skilled practitioner who makes a real difference in the lives of children and families. About the RoleWe are hiring for roles across Children's Social Care. Services include: Children's Assessment Team, Family Support and Safeguarding, Children We Care For, and Children with Disabilities. Heres what some of our recent NQSWs had to say... "The new Social Work Development Centre has enabled me to start my social work career in a positive, supportive and protected environment. I feel grateful that I have had the opportunity to be part of this team where I can develop at my own pace and where support is available as and when required, rather than being thrown in at the deep end. Being part of this friendly team has enabled me to gain confidence, knowledge and independence without feeling overwhelmed and out of my depth" Kirsty "The Social Work Development Centre that is currently being run in Oxfordshire has really helped mefeelsafe andsupportedas a NQSW.The Development Centre supports all NQSWs from all backgrounds with varying levels of experience within children's statutory social work. Ifeelthat the Development Centre can really help those whose training and qualification has been impacted by the pandemic" Patrick "All the people in the Social Work Development Centre are approachable and supportive, it feels like I'm part of a family. This was one of the most important things to me when looking for a job and I feel grateful to have joined such a friendly and forward-thinking organisation" Harriet About You This is a key safeguarding role, and our social workers play a vital part in ensuring children and families receive a safe, respectful, andchild-focused service. We are looking for individuals who: Practice with strong values, demonstrating acommitmentto strengths-based approaches. Hold aSocial Work degreeand areregistered with Social Work England.(If you are awaiting formal confirmation of your degree, we can offer an interim post as a Social Work Trainee.) Haveexcellent communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships and engage effectively with children and families. Can produceclear, concise, and accurate written work. Areresilient, able to manage theemotionaldemands of the role, and willing to make use of appropriatesupport. Ability totravel across the county, including rural areas. Valid driving licence and access to own transport will be beneficial. Please enquire if you do not currently possess a valid driving licence and own transport. Bringexperience of working with children and families, whether through placements or previous roles. Rewards & Benefits A competitive salary starting at £38,220 per annum starting salary, with progression upon completion of ASYE. A pension package of up to 20% employer contribution. Manageable caseloads: not only is it important that you love what you do, but it's also important to be able to manage your workload and devote the right amount of attention to each family. A role in an authority rated 'good' by Ofsted, as a Social Worker, you get thesupportyou need. Flexible working. We do all we can to ensure that every one of our employees has a healthy work-life balance.Our agile working policy means you can work across council sites or from home to suit your needs and wesupportflexible working hours. You will be provided with a laptop, mobile phone and MS Teams to facilitate agile working. Generous annual leave allowance. We know that as a social worker, you do an invaluable job.We offer a generous holiday allowance starting at 29 days per year (plus bank holidays) to help demonstrate how much we value the work you do. We also offer an annual leave purchase scheme. A caring andsupportiveculture. We are passionate about keeping people safe, well andindependent, whilst making a positive contribution. We host regular listening events and have a well at work scheme, which focuses on health and wellbeing. There's also a social presence, with yoga classes, sports teams and more. Other benefits include a cycle to work scheme, staff discount scheme for a range of retailers, holidays, insurance, restaurants, health & leisure activities and rail travel. Curious to learn more? Contact our friendly team for aconfidentialand informative chat! Karina Boorer,SWPDC Team Manager Childrens Services karina.boorer@oxfordshire.gov.uk Ourcommitment 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. Our commitment to:Guaranteed Interview Schemes As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job.We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service. Our commitment to:Safeguarding Oxfordshire County Council are 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 commitments. Our commitment to: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. Follow us on Social Media Stay up-to-date with the latest news and featured jobs from Oxfordshire County Council by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter andInstagram.If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk