We’re a great employer
Rewards and benefits
The key to success is having a happy and motivated workforce. We value our staff and are committed to supporting their wellbeing.
That’s why we offer:
- competitive salaries, with additional payments for hours worked above your contract
- generous pension contributions
- a generous holiday entitlement, which increases as you stay with us or progress up salary grade points
- flexible working patterns, giving you a work-life balance
- discounted and subsidised public travel and a cycle to work scheme
- a range of health and wellbeing benefits, including Wellbeing Coaching if required
- a range of lifestyle discounts, including discounted membership to our leisure facilities
- supportive teams, management and staff networks
- an understanding sickness policy
For more information, please see our Why Wakefield? guide.
Benefits for Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW)
The role of a social worker is a specialist one within adult social care. Social workers are trained, qualified professionals who have completed a relevant degree. View our Becoming a qualified social worker page for more information.
Are you a newly qualified social worker? Are you looking for your first paid employment since qualifying? If you choose to work for Wakefield Council, you can claim a one off £1,000 payment.
This will help you buy any resources you need to complete the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Programme.
(Wakefield Council employees who received funding to achieve their social work degree are not eligible for this.)
Training and career growth
We are passionate about having a skilled and knowledgeable workforce within Adult Social Care. If you join us, you’ll get a comprehensive induction. And, throughout your career, we’ll provide continuous support so you can reach your full potential and achieve your career aspirations.
Our dedicated Adult Social Care Workforce Development Team will ensure that you receive training in statutory, regulatory, and mandatory topics. From day one, and on an ongoing basis.
We also provide wider learning opportunities to help you develop and improve throughout your career. With training provided by both internal and external providers.
Our training is tailored for different levels of experience. And we recognise the importance of flexibility and different learning styles, so we offer a mix of:
- in-person courses
- workshops
- masterclasses
- e-learning
- access to a digital resource library
- specialised leadership development programmes
All this is complemented by the wider learning opportunities provided by Wakefield Council.
Training for social workers
We have a dedicated Social Work Professional Development team. It delivers training and learning opportunities to help staff grow and improve their skills. And it provides clear progression pathways for all our qualified social workers. From Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW), to Experienced Social Workers and beyond.
Wakefield Council’s social work degree apprenticeship
Are you interested in becoming a social worker? If you are already working as a permanent employee in adult social care at Wakefield Council, you can apply for our social worker degree apprenticeship. It’s an opportunity to learn whilst you earn. Find out more about becoming a qualified social worker.
Progression for social workers
Are you a dedicated social worker with ambitions to advance?
Our Social Work Career Progression Framework could help you to achieve your goals. It’s designed to help social workers progress up the career ladder.
Two years after you have completed the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Programme, you could become an Experienced Social Worker.
And Experienced Social Workers who can demonstrate that they are working at or towards a higher level can look at applying for roles as a Senior Social Worker.
Further progression opportunities include:
- Assistant Team Manager
- Team Manager