Working for Children’s Social Care (CSC)
Working for the Children’s Social Care team, we believe that children and young people in Devon should have the best possible start in life and the opportunity to thrive. We are committed to working with children and young people to ensure their safety and protect them from harm; whilst working restoratively to achieve the best outcomes for the whole family.
Our Restorative Approach means we believe that children and young people are best growing up within a family environment. Therefore, we work collaboratively with families to support them in developing their own solutions. So they can work together for a better future.
4174 children in receipt of a social work service
813 children in care
643 children subject to child protection plans
1875 families successfully supported by early help
Our values and ways of working
Devon’s Children’s Services want to achieve the best outcomes for all our children regardless of their circumstances. To assist us in that ambition, we are investing in our workforce.
In Children’s Social Care, you will work in an environment that places the child and family at the centre of everything we do, involving them in decision-making and empowering families to care well for their children. We are embedding these restorative values throughout our processes, focussing on developing good relationships and enabling high levels of support and challenge to secure favourable life chances for our children.
Our values also guide our relationships with each other and our partners, ensuring that our services for children are the best they can be. Our social workers consistently tell us the training available from the Devon Children’s Social Care Academy is highly beneficial, and they feel supported and well-supervised by their managers.
Come and find out for yourself what Devon Children’s Services can offer you to fulfil your ambitions. We look forward to welcoming you to Devon and seeing your career flourish.
Read more about our commitment to support existing and new staff progress their career goals.
(Please note, some links within this document will not be accessible to members of the public as they are for DCC staff only)
Restorative Devon
Restorative Devon is a Department for Education-funded transformation programme. It was developed to support CSC teams to improve services for children and families through the power of restorative and relational practice. Learn more about Restorative Devon and how it informs our practice here in Devon.
Fulfilling children and young peoples’ mental, physical, social and emotional needs
Ensuring that children are the focus of our work and their voices must be central and heard in the work we do
Enabling outcomes to meet the children's safeguarding needs
What children want from people working in CSC
Using our restorative approach, we asked children and young people around Devon to tell us what they want from the people working with them in CSC. From this, two lists were created with the attributes and requirements children highlighted as important to them. The first list is for those wishing to work with children aged 5-10, and the second is for those wanting to work with young people aged 11-17. Take a look at the lists, and see if you have what they want?
Kick start your career in CSC!
In Devon, we offer a clear, structured pathway for your career progression. For example, for experienced social workers, training and development opportunities are available to ensure that when you want to take the next step up the career ladder, you can confidently become an advanced social worker.
Careers and current opportunities
Service manager
Our service managers provide inspirational, inclusive and engaging operational management in delivering key statutory services.
Learn more about our service managers roles and see the latest vacancies
Team manager
Our frontline management roles make a critical contribution to the improvements we are making in Devon, by supporting our social workers to do their very best for children and families, every day.
Learn more about our team management roles and see the latest vacancies.
Advanced social worker
Advanced social workers (ASW), provide professional leadership and supervision to social work colleagues, supporting the team manager with day-to-day operations and contributing to effective and efficient services.
Learn more about our advanced social worker roles and see the latest vacancies.
Experienced social worker
Social workers are at the heart of what we do. In Devon, we’re committed to providing the support, training and development you need to continue to improve your professional practice as a social worker.
Learn more about our social work roles and see the latest vacancies.
Personal advisor
Personal advisors work closely with care experienced young people between 16 to 25 responding to their needs with a range of practical, personal, social and financial support.
Learn more about our personal advisor roles and see the latest vacancies.
Family practitioner
Family practitioners work directly with children, young people and families, carrying out frequent home and community visits to families who have come to the attention of social work teams.
Learn more about our family practitioner roles and see the latest vacancies.
Devon Children’s Social Care Academy
The Devon Children’s Social Care Academy (the Academy) provides the latest training for frontline staff to ensure they can deliver the best outcomes for Devon’s children, young people and their families.
Training programmes leading to a career in Children’s Social Care
The Academy also provides a number of specialised training programmes for the social work staff of tomorrow, such as the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme for these that have just completed their degree in Social Work or an Apprenticeship for those that would prefer to earn their degree whilst also being paid on the job.
Why I enjoy working for Devon
Discover more about living and working in:
The place to live
We’re lucky to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Whether you like the sea, the countryside or the city, find out why Devon is the place for you.
The place to work
Think you know local government? Think again. Modern. Flexible. Inclusive. Find a job that makes a difference and contributes to your local community, and gives you the flexibility and support you need.
Flexible working opportunities
Working at Devon County Council, you will be offered a whole host of flexible working opportunities – but what exactly does this mean?