Making the difference that lasts

Few careers give you the chance to change the direction of a child's life. In Dorset, helping a family stay together or keeping a child safe isn't just a responsibility, it's a privilege.

When you help a child feel safe, heard and supported, the impact goes well beyond your day-to-day work. You're giving them the chance of a healthier, happier and more secure future.

We're rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, with inspectors recognising strong leadership, confident practitioners and children receiving timely, effective help.
 

Our mission and vision

Our mission is simple and ambitious: we want children in Dorset thrive, be happy and be the very best they can be.

We work with children, young people and families restoratively, focusing on their strengths to build safe, secure and lasting relationships. We listen carefully and act so that children's voices shape every decision. We work alongside communities, not apart from them.

Our vision is to shift effort towards earlier support and intervention and to get it right first time. We work restoratively with families and focus on building sustainable and meaningful change.
 
Colleague sat taking notes while looking at a screen
Colleagues stood in discussion

How we work

Our approach is collaborative, strengths-based and restorative. We work with people to identify what is already working, build on these strengths to reduce risk and harm, repair relationships and strengthen resilience.

Services are rooted in place and delivered by multi-professional teams. We intervene at the earliest opportunity so we're proactive, not reactive. We work hard to reduce unnecessary changes in practitioners so families experience continuity and don't have to keep repeating their story to different professionals.

We measure success by how life improves for children and young people. We learn, reflect and improve continuously. Where it helps, we use digital tools to cut bureaucracy and free up more time for direct work.

Why join us

Our focus is supporting families to meet their children's needs and keeping children at home where it's safe to do so. You'll find a range of genuine challenges here, working with children, families and partners in a workplace that supports you to grow, professionally and personally.

We back your professional judgement. If you do the right thing, we'll stand by you. Our culture is one of trust, not blame, and that means you can focus your energy on the work that matters.

Support, learning and wellbeing matter to us. Supervision is reflective and regular. Leaders are visible and approachable. Good practice gets recognised, shared and celebrated.

Professional development is central to what we offer, whether you're newly quaified or highly experienced. Clear progression pathways and high-quality training help you build a long-term career.

As a Pathfinder for the Families First for Children reforms, we've played an active role in shaping the future of Family Help and Child Protection nationally. Our approach keeps families at the centre, encourages genuine collaboration and cuts through jargon, giving practitioners clarity of purpose, stronger multi-agency structures and better continuity for families.
 

What our people say

Child with butterfly on nose smiling, alongside quote 'they feel supported and valued' by Ofsted
Our model was recognised by Ofsted with an Outstanding rating.  But what we're most proud of is what inspectors heard directly from our practitioners:
 
"Practitioners have been resolute in universally saying that they feel supported, valued and receive regular and helpful individual and group supervision.  They feel equipped with a wealth of resources and training. Practitioners' relentless dedication to ensure children, families and care leavers receive the support they need shone through in this inspection."

Ofsted, May 2024
And from one of our own practitioners:
 
"Although there are challenging days, they are far outweighed by the opportunity to walk alongside children and families, supporting them to make meaningful and lasting positive changes.  Developing my social work career in Dorset has strengthened my passion for the role, and being part of a supportive, compassionate team makes the work even more fulfilling."

Ana Bament, Advanced Practitioner
Child smiling with brightly painted hand with quote, 'being part of a supportive, compassionate team makes the work even more fulfilling" by Ana, Social Worker
An adult and child sat on a Dorset cliff overlooking the sea on a sunny day

Why Dorset

Dorset is one of England's most distinctive places to live and work. With two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 95 miles of coastline, market towns, villages and a county that consistently ranks among the best in the UK for quality of life, it's the kind of place people plan to move to, not away from.

If you're based elsewhere and a role has caught your attention, we'd encourage you to make the move. We offer a generous relocation package to help you get settled, with up to £8,000 in HMRC-eligible support that's free of tax.

Hybrid working means flexibility as standard. When work takes you out across the county, you'll cover some of the most beautiful and varied countryside in England.

Career opportunities in Children's Services

Social Worker

Social workers are at the heart of what we do. We are committed to providing support, training, and development to enhance continuous professional practice.

Find out more about: 

Youth Worker

Working with young people one-on-one, in groups, and through outreach, these roles develop strong, positive relationships with opportunities to collaborate with schools, community sector organisations, and partner agencies.

Family Worker

Roles that work directly with children, young people and families, helping to develop and deliver multi-agency plans and support that improves outcomes and life chances for children and young people in Dorset. 

Residential Care Worker

Providing care and support to children and young people, these roles begin within a residential setting but also include work within communities and homes to improve their lives.

Fostering

Recruiting, assessing and supporting adoptive parents and foster carers, our team matches children to families and provides continual support. Our fostering Social Workers support Dorset's foster carers, helping them to achieve great outcomes for the children they care for.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Supporting the development of Education, Health and Care Plans that are co-produced with children, their families and the settings they attend. These roles involve direct work with children and families.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists provide advice, reassurance, support, assessment and intervention to help children and young people develop their skills in everyday activities.

Educational Psychologists

Educational psychologists work with children, young people, families and schools, using psychology to promote positive outcomes in relation to wellbeing, communication and learning.