Support Worker - Emergency Social Work Team - Casual

Overview

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children, adults and families? We are looking for compassionate, reliable and adaptable Support Workers to join our Emergency Social Work Team (ESWT).

Working outside of normal office hours on a rota basis, you will play a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community during times of crisis. This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who can remain calm under pressure, work independently and provide practical and emotional support when it matters most.

Take a look at our Children's Social Care Candidate Pack to find out more.

About us

The Emergency Social Work Team provides an out-of-hours service across Buckinghamshire, supporting vulnerable children, adults and families when urgent situations arise outside of regular business hours. Working closely with social workers, emergency services, health professionals and partner agencies, the team ensures that individuals receive timely support, safeguarding and intervention when needed most.

Our focus is on protecting and supporting those at risk, responding to emergencies, and helping people access the care and services they need

About the role

As a Support Worker within the Emergency Social Work Team, you will work alongside social workers to deliver practical support and assistance in emergency situations across the county.

Your duties will include:

• Acting as an Appropriate Adult for vulnerable adults and children detained by the police.
• Purchasing and delivering essential items such as food, nappies and emergency supplies.
• Supporting the transportation of adults and children to placements outside normal working hours alongside a Social Worker.
• Working collaboratively with social workers, health professionals, emergency services and other partner agencies.
• Providing updates, information and observations to support effective decision making and safeguarding.
• Responding professionally and sensitively to people experiencing challenging or distressing circumstances.

Mobile:

A ‘mobile’ role gives you the flexibility to schedule your own diary, so you can meet with colleagues and clients in a variety of locations. You’ll access digital folders and resources on your laptop and be able to use the network wherever you are based. Working from home will be common, as well as meeting your team in the office where necessary.

 

About you

We're looking for someone who is caring, resilient and committed to supporting vulnerable people.

You will ideally have:

• Experience working with vulnerable adults, children and/or families.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds.
• The ability to work independently and make sound judgements within established procedures.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively in a dynamic environment.
• Experience working collaboratively with professionals and external agencies.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
• GCSE-level education (or equivalent).
• A full driving licence.

A qualification such as NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care is desirable.

This role includes lone working, overnight shifts and weekend working, so applicants must be comfortable working independently and managing their time effectively.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Other information

For more information about this role, please contact Melissa Kaseke or Mariette Uys at [email protected] or [email protected] for an informal discussion.

Closing date: Thursday 24th September 2026.

Interview date: TBC

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

 

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Buckinghamshire is a successful, growing place with fantastic natural assets, a highly productive economy and many resourceful and thriving communities. However, we are far from complacent and our new and ambitious unitary authority is well placed to tackle the challenges associated with growth, an aging population, climate change and inequalities in both opportunities and outcomes – particularly for our children and young people.

Children’s Services is on an improvement journey and as our very recent Ofsted report shows, we have continued to improve despite the pressures of the pandemic and have built solid foundations for future success. Relationships with partners are strong and our collective response to the pandemic has strengthened and deepened our work together.

We have a big, ambitious agenda for Buckinghamshire, and our teams work collaboratively and at pace to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people across the county.

We are looking for talented and driven individuals to help us achieve the best outcomes for our children, young people and families in Buckinghamshire. Our key priorities include continuing to protect vulnerable children and young people from harm, whilst sustaining an environment where social work practice can thrive. Through our vital work with our partners, including The Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Childrens Partnership, we continue to improve our collective response to children and young people who have been exposed to domestic abuse, exploitation, substance misuse and mental health issues.

No matter what role you take on in our Children’s services, you will be part of a team who is dedicated to supporting children and their families to achieve their full potential.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/