Social worker : Employers and vacancy sources

Social workers are employed by:

• social service departments of local authorities in England and Wales;
• social work departments in Scotland;
• health and social service trusts in Northern Ireland;
• primary care/health service trusts;
• GP practices;
• hospitals and hospices;
• private sector nursing homes;
• voluntary and independent agencies.

Settings vary depending on the employer. For example, you may be working in a large department with many hundreds of employees or you could be based in a small organisation where you are the only professionally qualified member of staff.

After some years' experience, you may be able to work in a self-employed or freelance capacity and secure work through agencies. There is a growing market for locum social workers, especially if you have child protection experience. It may also be possible to offer counselling, therapy or training skills on a freelance basis. Some local authorities and private homes keep a casual relief list.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Jobs
• Community Care  
• jobsgopublic  
• Local Government Jobs  
• Great Social Care  
• Opportunities: The Public Sector Media  
• The Voice Jobs  
• Compass  
• Health Service Journal  
• NHS Jobs  
• local, regional and national press, e.g. Guardian Jobs  , The Scotsman  (Fridays) and The Herald  (Fridays)
• local authority and council websites

Recruitment agencies may handle vacancies.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.