Derbyshire County Council

Advanced Social Worker – Children with Disabilities

Pay Rate: £29.03 per hour

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Locum

About the Role

Derbyshire County Council is seeking an experienced Advanced Social Worker to join their Children with Disabilities (CWD) Team. This is a specialist role working with children and young people who have complex needs, ensuring they receive high-quality assessments, tailored support, and effective safeguarding where required.

You will play a key role in supporting families, leading on complex cases, and contributing to high standards of practice across the service. The role offers the opportunity to work in a supportive team with a strong focus on relationship-based and strengths-led social work.

Key Responsibilities

Lead on complex assessments and care planning for children with disabilities.

Undertake Child in Need, safeguarding, and statutory work where appropriate.

Provide professional guidance and support to colleagues within the team.

Work closely with families, carers, health professionals, education, and other partner agencies.

Ensure children’s voices are central to all assessments, plans, and decision-making.

Prepare clear, analytical reports for reviews, panels, and statutory processes.

Maintain accurate and timely case recording in line with statutory requirements.

Practice Model Used by Derbyshire

Derbyshire operates a Strengths-Based and Relationship-Focused Practice Model, underpinned by restorative principles. The model promotes:

building strong, trusting relationships with children and families

working collaboratively with families to identify strengths and solutions

reflective practice and professional curiosity

child-centred, outcome-focused decision-making

This approach supports consistent, high-quality practice across specialist services including Children with Disabilities.

Why Derbyshire Is a Great Place to Live and Work

Derbyshire offers an excellent quality of life, combining beautiful countryside with accessible towns and strong local communities. Benefits include:

Easy access to the Peak District National Park, ideal for outdoor living and downtime.

A lower cost of living compared to many urban areas, with good housing options.

A strong sense of community and family-friendly environment.

Well-connected road and rail links to major cities including Sheffield, Nottingham, and Manchester.

A local authority committed to supporting its workforce, with a focus on wellbeing, supervision, and professional development.

Derbyshire provides a calmer pace of life while still offering rewarding, meaningful social work practice