Independent social worker jobs in reading, england
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
PACT is one of the UK’s leading voluntary adoption agencies, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and has been at the forefront of adoption services for over 60 years.
We are currently looking for Independent Social Workers based in the following areas to undertake adoption assessments:
· Milton Keynes
· Bedford
· Peterborough
· Cambridge
· North London
Caseloads are flexible and can be arranged to fit around other commitments. We can offer a competitive rate for each assignment.
You must be SWE registered and have at least three years’ post qualifying experience, preferably in adoption or fostering, and have solid assessment skills. It is also important that you are willing to travel, and that you hold your own professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
For further details and information on how to apply, please visit our website.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.
Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). The role description provides information on what our safer recruitment enquiries include and the level of DBS required to work in the role.
All opportunities with PACT are based in the UK. No agencies please.
an adoption charity and family support provider helping hundreds of families every year through outstanding adoption and adoption support services


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Young People Service in Bracknell.
£24,960.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.
Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Support Workers will provide support to customers to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs of the customers of the service. In some services, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional and social care. They will work with customers to promote social inclusion and alongside other members of the team to promote independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices.
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
What you'll do:
- If a need arises, deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. In some services, this will include delivering personal and physical care as appropriate
- Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
- Participate in the support planning and risk management, as facilitated by the lead Support Worker
- Carry out security duties to ensure the safety of the customers and premises
- Monitor the CCTV throughout the shift
- Enable customers to make full use of community facilities by providing support as directed
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Flexible
- Open to feedback and self development
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
- Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
What you'll bring:
Essential:
NVQ Level 2 or equivalent, or experience within charity/social care sector
Desirable:
Relevant specialism experience
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
ovenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
Please see our website for full job description
We're looking for 3 kind, compassionate and resilient Support workers to join our Learning Disabilities service in Langley.
£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS (take this out if BSW advert)
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
Support Workers will provide support to customers to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs of the customers of the service. In some services, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional and social care. They will work with customers to promote social inclusion and alongside other members of the team to promote independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices.
The role involves working with clients with complex needs in a rota system that includes early, late sleep in, weekend and bank holidays
What you'll do:
- If a need arises, deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. In some services, this will include delivering personal and physical care as appropriate
- Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
- Participate in the support planning and risk management, as facilitated by the lead Support Worker
- Carry out security duties to ensure the safety of the customers and premises
- Monitor the CCTV throughout the shift
- Enable customers to make full use of community facilities by providing support as directed
- Carry out support duties to enable customers to integrate into the community including e.g. accompanying the customer to attend benefit agency appointments and meetings, go shopping, to enquire at colleges about possible courses, to visit various public amenities
- Report any observations relating to customers welfare
For the full list, please see our website.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Flexible
- Open to feedback and self development
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
- Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
- Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
- Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
- Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour
What you'll bring:
Essential:
- NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector
Desirable:
- Experience in working with people with Learning Disabilities and Autism
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Night Support Worker to join our Young People service in Bracknell.
£24,000.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.
Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Night Support Workers enable people with particular needs to manage their tenancies and live independent lives of their choosing in the community. Night Support Workers are responsible for ensuring continuity of a support service at night and for keeping customers and the building safe.
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
What you'll do:
- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere
- Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
- Conducting key work sessions as required, that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
- Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
- Providing support with daily living activities, including practical assistance to support customers to independent living e.g. budgeting, cooking, establishing a night time routine
- Supporting customers to maintain a healthy environment and where appropriate assisting them to clean their accommodation and maintain good personal hygiene
- Assisting in the recording and reporting of customer incidents
Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/ Manager
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.
About you:
- Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organized
- Able to apply the right balance of care and support dependant on the needs of the customer
What you'll bring:
NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent with some previous relevant sector work experience
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 120 services, providing support to around 6000 customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
- We focus on Excellence and innovation.
- We are Caring and Compassionate.
- We are Inclusive and Trusted.
- We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
Please see our website for full Job description
We're looking for 3 kind, compassionate and resilient Support workers to join our Learning Disabilities service in Langley.
£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS (take this out if BSW advert)
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
Support Workers will provide support to customers to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs of the customers of the service. In some services, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional and social care.
What you'll do:
- If a need arises, deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. In some services, this will include delivering personal and physical care as appropriate
- Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
- Participate in the support planning and risk management, as facilitated by the lead Support Worker
- Carry out security duties to ensure the safety of the customers and premises
- Monitor the CCTV throughout the shift
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
- Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Flexible
- Open to feedback and self development
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
What you'll bring:
Essential:
- NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector
Desirable:
- Experience in working with people with Learning Disabilities and Autism
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
Please see our website for full Job description
Location: Home-based; with occasional travel to Respect’s office at Voluntary Action Islington (VAI), 200A Pentonville Rd, London N1 9JP; with responsibility for pilot sites in Manchester, London, Cleveland and North Wales.
Responsible to: DAPO Triage Service Manager
Responsible for: DAPO Triage Workers and IDVAs
Salary: Point 35-36 £37,450-38,349 (a London Allowance of £3,299.00 will be applied to employees who live in London).
We are pleased to offer a starting salary at the beginning point of the salary band. This position offers opportunities for salary increases based on performance and tenure.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week; 5 days a week with flexible working hours and provision of an out-of-hours response as needed.
Travel: You will be required to travel when the requires it.
Job type: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2026, with a possibility to extend, subject to funding.
Benefits:
- Friendly and collaborative working environment
- Remote working
- 25 to 30 days holidays per annum plus bank holidays (depending on length of service and pro-rata for part-time employees)
- Contributory pension scheme including 6% employer’s contribution (subject to employee’s minimum 2% contribution)
- Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
- Occupational sick pay depending on length of service and pro-rata for part-time employees.
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to staff discounts
Closing date: 6th June 2025, 23:59
Interviews to take place: 17th and 19th June 2025. These will be held virtually via Teams
About the role:
The Team Leader will lead on the delivery of the Triage Model in their pilot area/s, providing support, case management and supervision for the Triage Worker and IDVA roles. They will act as the first point of contact assessing the suitability of initial referrals to be allocated to a Triage Worker for a full assessment. The Team Leader will support the Service Manager and Practice and Development Lead in developing multi agency relationships for the successful implementation of the model and will take a lead role in maintaining these relationships locally to ensure operational success when undertaking assessments to try and ensure the right recommendations for positive requirements are made but also to support the ongoing development of a national delivery model and to support the evaluation of the pilot.
About you:
- At least 3 years’ experience of working on complex cases in a multi-agency environment and working with other professionals/agency to manage risk and safeguard vulnerable adults and children
- An understanding of the root causes of domestic abuse on both an individual and societal level
- Experience of working in a partnership with other organisations and managing the challenges that may arise
- Knowledge of safe and effective interventions with perpetrators of domestic abuse across different risk and needs groups
- To manage a complex workload, across multiple geographic regions, and effectively meet reporting deadlines and the needs of a wide range of stakeholders.
- A commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and an approach that centres survivors.
About Respect
Respect is a pioneering UK membership organisation in the domestic abuse sector. Founded in 2000, we have built our expertise over the last 25 years in what was then a fledgling sector and recently have seen significant and rapid growth.
How to apply
You must download an application form from Respect's job page, and submit to Operations department in word doc. format only, please.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact our HR Team directly.
Closing date: 6th June 2025, 23:59
Interviews to take place: 17th and 19th June 2025. These will be held virtually via Teams
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This position will focus on delivery of the Preventing Intimate Partner Abuse (“PIPA”) course – comprising individual and group sessions - and working closely with Thames Valley Police. RISE has also developed a range of Out of Court Resolution interventions for a range of offences, which are delivered online and in person, which the postholder will deliver. These include group and one-to-one courses to address a range of specific types of offending, including domestic abuse, inappropriate sexual behaviours, hate crime, assault on emergency workers, as well as other types of offences, and any new interventions developed in the coming years. This may include acting as a single point of contact to secure the offender’s engagement, working alongside other partners to address the offender’s needs, with the aim of eliciting behaviour change and reducing reoffending
Groupwork/one-to-one delivery:
· Deliver a range of short interventions which include group work, one to ones, embedding in a multi-agency approach to domestic abuse in the area.
· Manage cases with a range of complex needs and behaviours.
· Ensure delivery is in accordance with tasks outlined in the RISE Domestic Abuse Perpetrator manual and process mapping.
· Undertake holistic assessments that identify risk and protective factors, and develop bespoke support plans.
· Adhere to relevant group work programme manuals and deliver programme sessions to ensure the integrity of programme delivery, which is overseen by the Team Leader.
· Apply specialised materials to support your delivery to racialised and marginalised communities.
· Be responsible and accountable for working with Team Leader to ensure risk is reviewed on a regular basis.
· Practitioners will comply with the appropriate audit standards when working with perpetrators in line with RESPECT requirements.
· Use motivational interviewing techniques, trauma-informed and strength-based approaches in building a range of therapeutic skills to engage with service users to address their abusive behaviour.
· Encourage and facilitate learning with participants on a group, including proactively working to elicit behavioural change and acceptance of their behaviour towards their partner, or ex- partner.
· Work closely with other professionals to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect where there is an imminent risk to another person. Apply RISE’s escalation procedures.
· Be personally accountable for the completion of assessments, mid-way reports, and end of intervention reports, and ensure they are to a high standard.
· Provide support and consultancy to other professionals to ensure appropriateness of referrals and improve understanding on domestic abuse.
· Ensure effective planning for the delivery of each intervention in advance of the session.
· Participate in and pass the necessary training to be able to deliver all interventions.
· Assist or lead on the delivery of training courses.
Integrating the Safety Support Service:
· Liaise and engage closely with the Domestic Abuse Safety Advisor or local victim services commissioned to increase the safety of partners, ex-partners and children of the servicer user to manage the risk and develop treatment goals.
· Prior to delivering Domestic Abuse interventions, liaise and share information with RISE Domestic Abuse Safety Officers or local Integrated Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVA) to ensure an integrated approach is applied to risk management.
· Attend monthly risk review meetings with Domestic Abuse Safety Advisor and Senior practitioners to ensure effective risk management procedures are always applied.
Out of Court Resolution (OOCR) courses:
· Deliver a range of Out of Court Resolution short courses online and in person.
· Ensure delivery is in accordance with tasks outlined in the RISE OOCR manual and process mapping.
· Adhere to course manual sessions and materials and ensure the integrity of programme delivery is always maintained, overseen by the Team Leader.
· Apply specialised materials to support your delivery to racialised and marginalised groups and adjust materials according to meet neuro-diversity needs, agreed by the Team leader.
· Use motivational interviewing techniques and strength-based approaches in building a range of therapeutic skills to engage with service users online and in person.
· Encourage and facilitate learning with participants online using variety of techniques like break-out, noticeboard etc.
Recording and administrative tasks:
· Ensure timely and accurate recording of all relevant data (attendance, feedback, mid-way and end of intervention reports) using systems provided and in line with performance standards.
· Ensure regular contact with the OOCR team, recording and reporting back offender compliance.
· Maintain an accurate audit trail of all relevant communication with partner organisations involved.
· Ensure completion of pre and post questionnaires in line with RISE’s Social Impact strategy.
· Contribute to the evaluation and evidencing of social impact, including questionnaires and service user case studies.
General tasks:
· Develop excellent relationships with customers and respond positively to their needs.
· Be a strong advocate for RISE interventions, representing RISE and its interventions at key stakeholder events.
· Attend Clinical Consultancy to support safe practice and develop resilience during the delivery of demanding work as directed by the Team Leader