Question 1

What kind of pay can I earn in Social Worker jobs?

Accepted Answer

Social Worker pay varies depending on whether you work in the NHS, a local authority, or a private or charitable organisation.

According to Socialcare.co.uk’s salary guide, newly qualified Social Workers outside of the NHS typically start at around £22,000 per year, while NHS Social Workers usually enter at Band 6, currently £31,365 per year. With experience, qualifications and specialist expertise, salaries commonly rise toward £35,000–£40,000+, with senior, managerial or advanced practice roles paying even more.

Pay can also vary by region, with higher earnings often found in large cities or high-cost-of-living areas.

Question 2

Do Social Workers need specific training?

Accepted Answer

Yes. To become a qualified Social Worker, you must complete a Social Work BA or BSc (undergraduate), or a postgraduate degree in Social Work, often completed in 2-year accelerated courses that combine academic study with practice placements.

Postgraduate students may also be eligible for bursaries depending on the course and provider.

Once qualified, Social Workers must engage in continuous professional development (CPD) to maintain registration with Social Work England. Training usually includes safeguarding, risk assessment, legislation updates, and multi-agency working.

Question 3

Do you need experience to be a Social Worker?

Accepted Answer

Yes—relevant experience is essential for gaining a place on a Social Work degree or postgraduate programme.

Experience can include work in care, support, or youth services, volunteering in community or charity organisations, or roles supporting vulnerable people.

Your uploaded document highlights that Social Workers must demonstrate resilience, communication skills and familiarity with challenging situations—experience helps evidence these competencies.

For practising Social Workers, supervised placements during training form part of the mandatory experience required for qualification.

Question 4

What shifts do Social Workers work?

Accepted Answer

Most Social Workers work standard office hours—typically Monday to Friday, around 37 hours per week.

However, some services require flexibility. Depending on the role and employer, you may need to participate in occasional evening or weekend work, respond to urgent safeguarding issues, or join an out-of-hours duty or on-call rota.

Children’s services, crisis intervention teams and hospital-based roles are the most likely to require irregular hours.

Question 5

Are sponsorship / relocation options available?

Accepted Answer

Visa sponsorship for Social Workers is more common than in many other social care roles, but it is still dependent on employer eligibility. Some local authorities and NHS trusts can sponsor overseas Social Workers, but availability varies by region and budget.

Relocation support (within the UK) is sometimes offered for hard-to-fill posts or specialist roles, especially in high-need areas.

Always check the job description to confirm whether sponsorship or relocation packages are available.

Question 6

What’s the difference between NHS and private Social Worker jobs?

Accepted Answer

There are several differences.

NHS Social Worker roles usually start at Band 6 pay, offering structured increments. This includes NHS pension, leave allowances and benefits. There is oftena  focus on hospital discharge, mental health services or community health teams. You will work within clear clinical governance frameworks.

For local authority or private/charity Social Worker roles, salaries vary more widely (starting around £22,000 outside the NHS). Possible roles range from children’s services to adult safeguarding, addiction, homelessness or disability support. Career progression and benefits can differ between employers. Work may involve higher caseloads or more community engagement.

Both sectors involve multi-disciplinary teamwork and safeguarding responsibilities.

Question 7

Are there part-time or flexible Social Worker jobs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many employers offer Part-time hours, compressed hours, and flexible working arrangements, as well as hybrid office/home-based roles, job-share opportunities, and fixed-term or locum contracts.

Demand for qualified Social Workers is consistently strong, and local authorities and charities often offer flexible patterns to support staff wellbeing and retention.

694 Social Worker Jobs

Frequently asked questions

694 Social Worker Jobs

Frequently asked questions

What kind of pay can I earn in Social Worker jobs?down

Do Social Workers need specific training?down

Do you need experience to be a Social Worker?down

What shifts do Social Workers work?down

Are sponsorship / relocation options available?down

What’s the difference between NHS and private Social Worker jobs?down

Are there part-time or flexible Social Worker jobs?down