Randstad Care is proud to partner with Shetland Islands Council to recruit a passionate, dedicated Social Worker to join their Adult Services team.
In this role, you will deliver vital, person-centred support to vulnerable adults, their families, and carers-promoting independence, safeguarding, and dignity across unique island communities. Operating within an island authority offers a truly collaborative environment, manageable caseloads, and the rare opportunity to build deep, meaningful relationships with the individuals you support.
Beyond the work itself, Shetland provides an extraordinary lifestyle: dramatic coastal scenery, vibrant heritage, short commutes, and an enviable work-life balance. Whether you are seeking a rewarding permanent relocation or a high-impact locum contract with comprehensive travel and accommodation support, the dedicated team at Randstad will support you every step of the way.
Benefits of our brilliant rewards package include:
... - Flexible Hours: Control your work hours and choose assignments that fit your lifestyle.
- Competitive Pay Rates: We offer highly competitive remuneration for each placement.
- Professional Development: Opportunities to work across various departments, enhancing your skills and broadening your expertise.
- Free training: Keep up to date with your Continuous Professional Development.
- Pension Scheme: Contributory pension.
- Referral Bonus: Receive £300 in vouchers (subject to Ts and Cs).
- Weekly payroll: Randstad runs a twice weekly payroll, enabling you to control your finances by receiving weekly pay.
- Dedicated Support: Our team is here to assist you at every step, from onboarding through the entirety of your placement. We can even help with sourcing accommodation and travel, if required.
This is a generic adult social work post offering exceptional clinical breadth across the lifespan. The team covers all aspects of adult social care-excluding Criminal Justice-supporting individuals aged 16 through to end of life. You will work with service users facing mental health challenges, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments, delivering both statutory interventions and ongoing care management. A central element of this role is leading the transition of young people moving from Children's to Adult Services to ensure continuity of care, autonomy, and positive outcomes.
Practicing in an island authority provides a supportive multi-disciplinary environment, manageable caseloads, and the time to build genuine, lasting relationships within close-knit island communities.
Key Responsibilities
- Statutory Assessment & Care Management: Conduct holistic, person-centred assessments of need and risk for individuals aged 16+ with physical disabilities, sensory loss, and mental health needs.
- Transitions Pathway: Lead and coordinate the transition process for young people aged 16+ moving from Children's Services into Adult Services, establishing stable care and support packages into adulthood.
- Adult Support and Protection: Carry out duties under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, leading inquiries, investigations, and risk management strategies where required.
- Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work in close partnership with NHS healthcare teams, occupational therapists, housing officers, care providers, and third-sector partners across the islands.
- Self-Directed Support (SDS): Guide service users and carers through Self-Directed Support options, promoting autonomy, independent living, and choice.
- End-of-Life & Complex Care: Formulate, monitor, and review comprehensive care packages for individuals with deteriorating health conditions or palliative care needs.
- Case Recording & Court Reports: Maintain clear, defensible electronic case files, completing statutory reviews and preparing reports for tribunals or courts where necessary.
Essential Requirements
- Professional Qualification: Degree in Social Work (DipSW, CQSW, BA, or MSc).
- Professional Registration: Active registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), or currently registered with Social Work England / Social Care Wales / Northern Ireland Social Care Council and eligible/in the process of registering with the SSSC.
- Statutory Knowledge: Working knowledge of Scottish social work legislation, notably the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013, and the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
- Practice Experience: Post-qualifying experience in adult social work, disability services, or youth-to-adult transitions.
- Vetting: Current PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Children & Adults membership, or willingness to obtain one through Randstad.
- Driving Licence: Full UK driving licence (essential for travel across the islands).
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Experience acting as an appointed Council Officer under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act.
- Prior experience in remote, rural, or island practice environments.
- Mental Health Officer (MHO) accreditation is advantageous, though not essential.
This could be the perfect position in which to realise your career goals.
Know someone who might be interested? We offer referral bonuses for every successful recommendation, so feel free to pass this along!
https://www.randstad.co.uk/refer-a-friend/
Why let this opportunity slip through your fingers?
Do you have some more questions regarding this or any other role?
If you are interested in discussing the position further, please contact Leah Rowley on 0131 240 0887 or email for a confidential discussion. If you are happy to move forward with the process and are successful to be put forward for this role, a conversation can also be arranged with the Manager to discuss the details about the position further. This gives you the opportunity to ask more questions and to assess if this is the right role for you.
Being a preferred supplier to numerous local authorities and NHS trusts, we can give you access to a wide range of vacancies.
Are you thinking about a change in your career? Whether you are an existing locum or you are new to the locum market and are exploring your options, we have opportunities that are exciting, well paid and flexible.
I have over 22 years experience recruiting within the healthcare market at Randstad. If this particular role does not sound quite right for you, we have a wide selection of roles across the country that may not be advertised. We are also able to source a particular role to suit your requirements, so whether you work with children or adults in any particular speciality, please get in touch to see how we can support you!
Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.
