Adult Social Workers

- Suffolk County Council - Various locations countywide in Suffolk
- Salary: £38,510 per annum (pro rata for part time hours) rising to £39,481 - £42,123 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 1-2: Learning Disability and Autism, East (Ipswich) 37 hours per week, based at Endeavour House
- Post 3: West (Mildenhall), 37 hours per week, based at Mildenhall Hub
- Post 4: Optimising Care and Support Team (Bury St Edmunds) 37 hours per week, based at West Suffolk House

Suffolk’s Adult Social Care Services are looking for passionate Adult Social Workers and Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) to join our team.

Whether you are an experienced practitioner or about to qualify, if you are committed to supporting local communities and building strong networks, we want to hear from you. Suffolk offers a comprehensive training programme, including the ASYE scheme for NQSWs, designed to give you the best start and lay the foundation for a rewarding long-term career.

Your role

You will bring the skills and experience to deliver innovative, strengths-based assessments and care planning for individuals, carers, and their support networks. We are looking for someone who is adaptable, confident, and committed to strengthening social work, ambitious about what people can achieve and eager to explore creative ideas that lead to positive outcomes.

If you are considering applying, we encourage you to watch our video on Reimagining a Career in Adult Social Work . It offers valuable insight into the impact you can make and the support you'll receive as part of our team.

Why join us?

This is your chance to develop your career while making a meaningful impact in Suffolk’s communities. You will be supported by a team dedicated to your professional growth and success. We welcome early applications and will guide you through the registration process.

We offer:

- Full-time and 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)
- Six protected CPD days
- A strong and diverse training offer
- Supportive, experienced teams
- Clear pathways for development and progression across the council
- An inclusive, creative culture

If successful in joining the organisation, you will:

- have an excellent induction to the role
- receive support from peers and mentors
- be able to access extensive training opportunities available, to support your personal and professional development
- join a cohort of NQSW's who are also completing their ASYE training allowing you to provide and receive support from other NQSWs.

Further opportunities with career development

Following successful completion of your ASYE you could progress in the following roles:

- Approved Mental Health Practitioner
- Practice Educator.

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.

The teams

Integrated Neighbourhood and Area Locality

Adult social work in Suffolk supports individuals aged 18 and over who may need help due to: Physical health conditions, Mental health challenges, Age-related needs, Substance misuse, or Caring responsibilities. We uphold our strategic responsibilities under the Care Act 2014, ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.

Through our Integrated Neighbourhood and Area Locality Teams, we work closely with health professionals to help people live independently, stay safe, and maintain their well-being within their homes and communities. Our teams carry out holistic assessments, provide advice and guidance, and signpost individuals to local resources. We collaborate with key stakeholders, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises to promote choice, independence, and person-centred care - placing people at the heart of everything we do.

Learning Disabilities and Autism

We are recruiting Social Workers to join our Learning Disability and Autism Service. In this role, you will work with individuals with learning disabilities and autism, providing personalised support that helps them achieve their goals and thrive in their community. Every day is different, whether you're helping a young person transition from hospital to their first home or creating a tailored reablement plan to connect someone within local community, you will have the chance to make a profound difference.

Mental Health

The ASC Mental Health Service is a county wide service and therefore has bases across Suffolk. We are a creative service, evolving to work in the best way for the people of Suffolk. As a specialist service supporting those with functional mental health conditions, the teams are full of knowledge, skills, experience and a passion to encourage and promote independence and wellbeing. The service works closely with local system partners to provide high standards of social work to the people of Suffolk, who are also receiving a service from NHS Mental Health Services, including carrying out both statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 and those under the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007).

Optimising Care and Support Team

The Optimising Care and Support Team is a supportive and collaborative team focused on helping people maintain their independence. We work closely with health professionals and partner organisations to review care and support needs, find person-centred solutions and help ensure people receive the right support. We value teamwork, shared learning and continued development, working together to achieve positive outcomes for people across Ipswich and East Suffolk.

For more information

Please contact ASC Recruitment for a casual conversation. You can reach them by emailing [email protected]

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Grade 5 Adult Social Worker Job and Person Profile (JPP).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the   Supporting Statement template .

- Give an example of when you have worked collaboratively with health professionals, other agencies or partner organisations to coordinate care and support for an individual. How did you contribute to achieving a positive outcome?
- Tell us about a time when you have had to manage competing priorities within a busy caseload. How did you organise your workload while ensuring appropriate and timely outcomes?
- Describe a situation where you have applied your knowledge of relevant social care legislation, policy or practice when making a professional decision. What did you consider and what was the outcome?
- Please state your preference of post if you have one.

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 .

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

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   [email protected]   or  03456 014412 . You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages .

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 8 November 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. #LI-Hybrid