At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families, using person-centred planning to make a real difference.
- Company: Join Cambridgeshire County Council, a diverse and inclusive employer dedicated to community welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, a wellbeing package, and up to £8,000 relocation support.
- Why this job: Be part of a compassionate team reshaping social services for better community impact.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified Social Worker with registration; no newly qualified applicants accepted.
- Other info: We value diversity and encourage all candidates to apply, regardless of meeting every requirement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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About the role
We believe in giving Children, Young People and their Families choice, control and flexibility in how they manage their support needs, and the right to access inclusive services and be part of their own community. Our Children's Social Workers use Person Centred Planning approaches in seeking the views, wishes and feelings of those in our community. We are passionate about making a difference and do all we can to make the lives of our Children, Young People and their Families better. We are committed to high professional standards, continuous learning and we enjoy the challenges the Social Worker role brings. If this sounds like a role that suits your skill set, we would love to hear from you!
For more information, call Nathalie on 01223 475920 or email joinus@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. We currently have vacancies in Wisbech, Ely, Cambridge and Huntingdon. This is a rolling campaign and we check applications daily, so don't wait to apply! In Children's Services we are working to reshape what we do and how we do it. Why not be part of it?
Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We support flexible working requests from day one of employment and so we are open to discussing different working patterns to help you bring your best self to work.
About you
We're looking for confident and dynamic individuals who enjoy making a difference in their local community, are curious and spot things that others might not see, enjoy building relationships and like to explore possibilities. You must:
- Be a qualified Social Worker with a Social Work England registration
- Have the ability to work from a variety of locations and travel countywide independently
For a full list of the requirements of the role, please check out the Job Description & Person Specification. We will not be able to accept applications from Newly Qualified Social Workers for this role as we recruit to our ASYE programme at the beginning of each year. For more information and to register your interest in roles and be notified when we're recruiting Newly Qualified Social Workers, head to our website.
Our benefits
We value our colleagues in Cambridgeshire County Council and have developed a number of benefits in addition to the basics like annual leave, sick pay, pension and mileage:
- A comprehensive wellbeing package to cover all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work, which can also be accessed by your family
- 6 days of protected time each year to support in maintaining your Continuous Professional Development
- A relocation package of up to £8,000 (eligibility applies)
- A pay progression scheme to enable Social Workers to accelerate through the pay grade as you gain experience and skills
- Scalable retention payments of up to £7,650 over a 3 year period, starting after your first full year of employment for staff in our Assessment, Family Support & Safeguarding and Corporate Parenting Teams
- A Refer a Friend Scheme where if you refer another Social Worker to us who is subsequently employed by us as a result of that introduction, we'll pay you an introduction fee of £350
- Access to our Cambridgeshire Academy for Reaching Excellence (CARE) who will support your development, enabling you to become the best practitioner you can be
For more information and to see our other benefits, take a look at the benefits brochure attached to this advert.
About us
Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes. Our four values are central to our culture, driving everything we do. We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we firmly believe benefits our colleagues, the organisation and our communities.
If you don't meet every single requirement in the job role but think this could be you, please don't be put off. We are committed to building a workplace that is compassionate and inclusive as well as diverse, so if you think you could be a good candidate for this role please consider applying and speak to the recruiting manager if you have any questions.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, along with our employee network 'IDEAL' and self-organised peer support groups help us to foster an inclusive, supportive and safe working environment where people feel valued, respected, and empowered. We collect relevant diversity data for monitoring as part of the recruitment process to understand the diversity of our applicants and monitor any trends throughout the recruitment processes so that we can take meaningful action. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We fully support providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, as well as when you join us, and we encourage candidates to contact the Hiring Manager, whose details can be found in the advert, to discuss any adjustment needs. Some examples of adjustments could include additional time to complete an assessment or printing a document on pastel coloured paper with larger font size and line spacing. We would value talking about what might be possible to enable you to join us and thrive, so if there is something that would help you to do your best during your journey with us, please get in touch.
Visit our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and Inclusion.
Contact Detail:
Cambridgeshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Children\'s Social Worker and Senior Practitioner Positions
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Person Centred Planning approach. Understanding how to effectively engage with children, young people, and their families will set you apart as a candidate who truly aligns with our values.
✨Tip Number 2
Network within the social work community in Cambridgeshire. Attend local events or join online forums to connect with current employees and learn more about the culture and expectations of the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your commitment to continuous professional development. Highlight any relevant training or workshops you've attended that showcase your dedication to improving your skills as a social worker.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the specific areas where we have vacancies, such as Wisbech, Ely, Cambridge, and Huntingdon. Tailor your understanding of the local community needs to show how you can make a positive impact in those areas.
We think you need these skills to ace Children\'s Social Worker and Senior Practitioner Positions
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Children's Social Worker position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with their needs.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience in social work, particularly any roles that involved working with children and families. Use specific examples to demonstrate your impact and commitment to making a difference.
Showcase Your Qualifications: Make sure to clearly state your qualifications, including your Social Work England registration. If you have additional certifications or training relevant to the role, mention these as well to strengthen your application.
Personalise Your Cover Letter: Craft a compelling cover letter that reflects your passion for social work and your understanding of the community's needs. Address it to the hiring manager and express why you want to join their team specifically.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridgeshire County Council
✨Understand the Role
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Children's Social Worker and Senior Practitioner. Familiarise yourself with Person Centred Planning approaches and be ready to discuss how you would implement these in your work.
✨Show Your Passion
Demonstrate your passion for making a difference in the lives of children and families. Share specific examples from your past experiences that highlight your commitment to improving community welfare and your ability to build relationships.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Prepare by thinking of situations you've encountered in your previous roles and how you handled them, focusing on outcomes and lessons learned.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, ask thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, ongoing training opportunities, and the council's approach to safeguarding. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.