Newly Qualified Social Worker

Job Introduction

Newly Qualified Social Worker

Chatham, Kent

£34,581 per annum, rising to £35,712 after six months.  
Upon successful completion of the ASYE programme your salary will increase to £38,476 per annum plus other benefits.

Are you ready for the next step in your career?

Medway Council are recruiting Newly Qualified Social Workers to join our Children’s Services teams in September for our 2025/26 Assessed and Supported Year of Employment (ASYE) programme.

Medway offers a unique ASYE programme above and beyond the basic requirements set out by the DfE.  Our offer includes:

• Dedicated monthly workshops to support and enhance your learning in subjects relevant to your day-to-day work
• Dedicated ASYE Practice Development Lead to support you throughout your ASYE and beyond
• Protected caseload which will grow gradually in terms of numbers and complexity over the year
• 2 days per month for learning and development throughout the ASYE
• Group supervision alongside other NQSWs to help you learn from each other
• Community Care Inform subscription
• Access to our comprehensive learning and development programme
• A culture of staff care and learning
• Pay progression during your first year and a £2,000 payment upon successful completion of the ASYE programme

Following successful completion of the ASYE programme you will progress to the role of Social Worker where you will continue to have access to training, support and coaching to help you progress and grow your career in Medway. 

In return for your commitment, we are proud to offer an excellent benefits package including - 

• Essential user allowance with option to transfer to lease car after completion of your ASYE year
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Free car parking
• Access to ICT equipment and mobile phone, to support hybrid model of flexible working
• Access to a confidential information, advice and counselling service

Eligibility Criteria

You will have completed your social work qualification no more than 2 years prior to the starting date and not have completed an ASYE programme previously.

A valid UK driving licence is required together with car insurance for business use, as you will need to travel to different locations to undertake the duties of the role.

Social Work England registered (or eligible once qualified) and ready to commence your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) in September 2025. 

Next Steps

If you would like an informal discussion about the role please phone Gemma Winspear – ASYE Practice Development Lead on 07885 983583 or email gemma.winspear@medway.gov.uk 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to attend an assessment centre, consisting of a group exercise and written assessment. Candidates who are successful in the assessment centre will progress to a final interview.

Additional information

This role will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Closing date for applications is Monday 7th April 2025

Shortlisting will be undertaken on Tuesday 8th April 2025

Short listed candidates will be invited to participate in an assessment centre consisting of the following –

Written Exercise Monday 14th April (AM) 

Group Exercise will be held during the week of 14th April 

Candidates who are successful at the assessment centre will be invited to a formal interview - 

Formal Interviews will be held during the week of 21st April 2025

#MakeitMedway

Our organisation: 

Medway is a unitary authority in the Southeast of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.  All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.