Keyworker Social Workers

We are looking for a passionate and experienced Social Worker to join our Keyworker Service within the Birth to Settled Adulthood (B2SA) team. This is a unique opportunity to support children and young people aged 0–25 with autism and/or learning disabilities who are at risk of mental health hospital admission or are currently in inpatient settings.

As a Keyworker Social Worker, you will play a vital role in coordinating care, building strong relationships with families, and working across health, education, and social care systems to ensure the right support is in place at the right time.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting children and young people on the Dynamic Support Register (DSR).
• Acting as a consistent point of contact for families and professionals.
• Developing personalised support plans and facilitating Care, Education and Treatment Reviews (CETRs).
• Working collaboratively across services to prevent hospital admissions and support timely discharges.
• Contributing to service evaluation and continuous improvement.

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is a qualified and registered Social Worker.
• Has experience working with children and young people with complex needs.
• Can build strong, trusting relationships with families and professionals.
• Is proactive, organised, and solution-focused.
• Has the ability to travel across Dorset (a suitable vehicle is essential).

What We Offer

• A supportive and inclusive working environment.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Involvement in national and regional Keyworker Communities of Practice.
• The chance to make a real difference in the lives of children, young people, and their families.

Additional Information

• This role requires an enhanced DBS check for both adults and children.
• You will be assigned to either the East or West of Dorset, with occasional travel across the county.

For an informal conversation please contact Justine Collom, Service Manager for Birth to Settled Adulthood, at [email protected]

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We: 

• provide essential services that support over 380,000 residents 
• work in partnership to make a real difference 
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities 
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive 

You will: 

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset 
• have access to a range of benefits and support 
• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression 

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. 

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application. 

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement. 

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us. 

Find out more about how to apply.