Parenting Assessor in Bracknell

We are looking for an experienced and skilled Senior Social Worker to join the Family Safeguarding Team as a Parenting Assessor. This non‑case holding role focuses on specialist assessment work, enabling you to make a meaningful impact on children's lives through in‑depth, high‑quality assessments of families.

Responsibilities

• Role model and champion excellent practice, supporting the development of others.
• Bring proven expertise in completing detailed, analytical assessments and producing high‑quality reports.
• Make professional judgments and recommendations based on analytical assessment and review.
• Prepare comprehensive court reports and give evidence in court.
• Complete in‑depth, analytical parenting assessments (including pre‑birth), focusing on parental capacity and capacity to change within PLO and care proceedings, and produce reports that provide robust analysis and clear recommendations within stipulated timescales.
• Complete additional assessments such as risk assessments or ‘Together and Apart’ assessments when required.
• Promote listening to children at every opportunity, ensuring their views are heard, recorded and acted upon in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Coordinate multi‑agency contributions to assessment, planning and intervention, working within the multidisciplinary Family Safeguarding Model to drive change and provide effective support.
• Attend Permanency Planning meetings and contribute to the care planning for children.
• Participate in regular reflective supervision, providing analytical assessment findings and recommendations in monthly group case supervisions alongside the allocated social worker and partners.
• Support and mentor less experienced colleagues, including newly qualified social workers, family workers and social work students.

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England and have at least three years’ post‑qualifying experience in Children’s Social Care, including significant experience in child protection, care planning, and legal processes.

Working pattern

Based at Time Square, Bracknell for a minimum of three days per week, with flexibility to work from home and in the community, depending on service needs.

Benefits

• 28 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work‑life balance.
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Reimbursement of one annual professional subscription/registration.
• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits (terms and conditions apply).
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

Salary

This role attracts a 4% Annual Retention Payment after 1 year’s service, or see the candidate pack.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know.