Are you an experienced Social Worker with a passion for supporting autistic adults and adults with ADHD to achieve positive outcomes and greater independence?
Devon County Council’s Countywide Autism and ADHD Team is looking for an experienced and motivated Social Worker to join our specialist Adult Social Careservice. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a unique countywide team, supporting adults whose neurodivergence can significantly impact their daily lives, wellbeing, relationships, and access to services.
As an experienced social work team, we provide expert assessment, intervention, and support to adults across Devon. We work closely with health colleagues, housing providers, community organisations, advocacy services, care providers, and other professional disciplines to ensure people receive the right support at the right time.
Working throughout the county of Devon as a Social Worker in Adults Services, this role entails:
- Undertaking Care Act assessments and reviews.
- Use a strengths-based, person-centred approach to support adults to maximise independence and choice.
- Complete complex assessments using a range of health and social care tools, including Care Act assessments and contributions to CHC processes.
- Apply the Mental Capacity Act, including the two stage test and Best Interest decision-making.
- Identify and promote enablement and reablement opportunities.
- Work collaboratively with health partners, voluntary sector organisations and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Undertake work relating to the Court of Protection, including making applications for authorisation of deprivations of liberty in the community where required.
- Maintain accurate, timely and reflective case records, including overseeing the duty inbox/function
- Mentor students, NQSWs and less experienced colleagues, supporting their development and modelling best practice.
- Contribute to service development and continuous improvement
About You:
- Recognised Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
- Significant post-qualifying experience within Adult Social Care.
- Excellent knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and safeguarding legislation.
- Strong assessment, analytical and decision-making skills.
- Experience of working with complexity, risk and multi-agency partnerships.
- Commitment to strengths-based and person-centred practice.
Desirable:
- Experience supporting autistic adults and/or adults with ADHD.
- Knowledge of neurodiversity-affirming approaches.
Social Worker Career Pathway
We have implemented the first phase of a new Social Worker Career Pathway within our Adults Services, with our vacancies available at the Social Worker (Grade F) or Experienced Social Worker (Grade G) levels. Our Social Worker and Experienced Social Worker roles align with the national Professional Capability Framework (PCF) for Social Workers, which provides a robust structure for all local authorities to use as a way of standardising professional capabilities and provides a clear career pathway. This is a fantastic opportunity to provide you with an achievable, clear pathway for your career; to enable you as a practitioner to reflect and identify your own practice and development on the PCF pathway. If successful in being shortlisted for interview, your experience, skills and knowledge, will be assessed against the PCF domains and if found appointable, this will determine your appointment to either the Social Worker (Grade F) or Experienced Social Worker level (Grade G). With on-going learning and support from your line manager, those appointed as a Social Worker will be able to evidence incremental learning and submit an application in due course for progression to the Experienced Social Worker (Grade G) via a portfolio of supporting evidence against the PCF framework.
What we can offer you
- We are committed to your continuous professional development, doing all we can to help you to get the most from your career. You will receive excellent support and supervision, with regular opportunities to discuss and reflect on your practice, both with your line manager and peers.
- We offer 26 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays, rising incrementally to 31 days after 5 years’ service.
- Flexible working opportunities are available, these include part-time hours, flexitime, compressed working hours and homeworking (this is subject to the needs of the role – please discuss at further at interview).
- Offer an opportunity to enter a generous Local Government Pension Scheme.
- As a place to live and work, Devon is hard to beat with top-performing schools, universities, vibrant cities, pretty villages and some of the most scenic coast and countryside in the UK. Living and working in Devon as a Social Worker has never been more attractive.
- Please note: At this time, we are unable to consider overseas applications.
For an informal discussion please contact: tom.woods@devon.gov.uk 01392 381859 Interviews are to be held on 15th September 2026
Does the job role include personal care?: No
Working Patterns:
TBC
Essential details:
- DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
- For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council’s use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes – Working for Devon | Devon County Council.
- Happy to Talk Flexible Working – The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
- Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
- For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
- We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time.UK Right to Work is required. For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
- This role requires Social Work England Registration (SWE).
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