Looking for Your Next Social Work Role? Here's 7 Things to Consider First

One of the most common conversations I have with social workers isn't about pay rates.

It's about finding the right role.

The reality is that most experienced social workers can find work. The challenge is finding a role with the right manager, the right team, the right culture and the right support.

After speaking with hundreds of social workers over the years, there are a few themes that come up time and time again.

If you're considering your next move, here are seven things I'd encourage you to think about before accepting your next opportunity.

1. Don't Just Focus on the Hourly Rate

I completely understand why rate is important.

But a role paying £2-£3 per hour more isn't always the better opportunity.

Ask yourself:

• What's the caseload like?
• What support is available?
• What does the commute look like?
• How will I learn and develop in the role?

I've seen social workers turn down higher-paying contracts because they knew another team would provide stronger management support, a better culture and ultimately a much better experience.

Sometimes that's worth far more than a small increase in hourly rate.

2. Keep Your CV Up to Date

You never know when the perfect opportunity is going to come along.

One of the biggest advantages you can give yourself is having a CV that's ready to go.

Make sure it clearly demonstrates:

✅ Recent placements

✅ Court experience

✅ Complex case work

✅ Leadership responsibilities

✅ Specialist knowledge

✅ Key achievements and outcomes

A strong CV allows opportunities to move quickly when they arise.

3. Be Honest About What You're Looking For

The best career conversations are rarely about job titles.

They're usually about lifestyle, aspirations and what makes you enjoy coming to work.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want less travel?
• Am I looking for progression?
• Do I want to move into management?
• Am I looking for a new challenge?

·        What impact can I bring to the team?

The clearer you are about your priorities, the easier it becomes to identify the right opportunity.

4. Don't Automatically Rule Out Neighbouring Authorities

Some of the best opportunities I've seen have come from authorities’ candidates weren't initially considering.

It's easy to become focused on one council or one geographical area, but keeping an open mind can uncover opportunities offering:

• Stronger management support
• Different career progression routes
• Greater long-term potential

A role you hadn't considered could end up being the best move you make.

5. Start Conversations Before You Need To

One mistake I see regularly is social workers waiting until their contract is about to end before exploring options.

By that stage you're often making decisions under pressure.

The strongest career moves usually happen when candidates start conversations early and take time to understand what's happening across the market.

Being proactive gives you choice.

Making decisions under pressure often removes it.

6. Work With One Trusted Social Work Talent Partner

This is probably the most important point in the entire article.

A great Talent Partner should know far more than what's written in the advert.

They should be able to tell you:

• What your first day is likely to look like
• How the induction process works
• What support is available
• How the team is structured
• What the manager's expectations are
• What challenges the service is currently facing
• What success looks like in the role

Most importantly, they should know the people making the hiring decisions.

A great Talent Partner isn't simply forwarding your CV.

They're speaking to managers about your expertise, your experience and the difference you've made throughout your career.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I give social workers is this:

Never take for granted what you do every day.

What seems normal to you often isn't normal at all.

When preparing for interviews, don't just tell managers your job title.

Walk them through:

• The complex cases you've worked on
• How you supported families through difficult situations
• How you managed risk
• How you worked with partners
• How you challenged decisions when needed
• How your intervention improved outcomes
• What changed because of your involvement

Don't simply say what you did.

Explain how you did it.

One of my favourite career conversations was with a Team Manager preparing for a Service Manager role.

Every time we discussed a significant achievement, the response was:

"It's just what we do."

The reality was that it wasn't.

This individual had led teams through complex challenges, supported practitioners, improved outcomes for families and demonstrated exceptional leadership.

The challenge wasn't a lack of experience.

The challenge was recognising just how impressive that experience actually was.

We spent time breaking down not only what had been achieved but how it had been achieved.

How were staff supported?

How were difficult decisions made?

How was performance improved?

How were better outcomes delivered?

Suddenly the story became much more powerful.

That person went on to secure the promotion.

It's a conversation I still think about regularly because social workers often underestimate the value they bring.

In fact, it's something I remind that individual of almost every time we speak.

What felt like "just doing the job" was actually exceptional leadership, experience and passion.

Sometimes the hardest person to convince of your achievements is yourself.

A great Talent Partner helps you recognise those achievements and ensure hiring managers see the full value of the experience you bring.

7. Never Let Someone Change Your Experience

Your CV is your professional reputation.

You should always know:

• What version of your CV is being submitted
• Where it's being submitted
• Who will be reviewing it
• Why you're being recommended

Formatting improvements are one thing.

Correcting spelling is one thing.

But nobody should be changing, exaggerating or rewriting your experience without your knowledge and approval.

You should be completely comfortable discussing every line on your CV.

Because at the end of the day, your reputation follows you throughout your career.

Protect it.

One Final Thought

The best career moves rarely happen because someone applied for fifty jobs.

They usually happen because they had the right conversation with the right person.

If you're considering your next move, approaching the end of a contract, or simply curious about what's happening across the social work market, I'd encourage you to speak to a dedicated Talent Partner.

Not because they will be trying to sell you a role.

But because we're speaking to Team Managers, Service Managers and Local Authority leaders every day.