At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families in need, building relationships and providing practical help to improve children's lives.
- Company: Leicestershire County Council, a stable and supportive organisation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on positive family outcomes and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and experience in children's social work required.
The predicted salary is between 41259 - 44109 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: Melton / Harborough Asfordby Rd, Melton Mowbray LE13 0HN
Salary: £41,259 - £44,109 per annum (pro rata for part time) plus a market premia of £3,283 per annum
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 4th October 2026
Interview Date(s): TBC
This is an exciting opportunity to join a stable and supportive Family Help Team within Melton and Harborough. We are a highly experienced Level 3 team, offering a fantastic opportunity for a practitioner looking to develop their skills and experience within Child in Need work.
In this role, you will be supported to build your expertise while working closely alongside our Targeted Help teams. You will also have the opportunity to gain valuable court experience through the completion of Section 7 reports, further broadening your professional development.
We want a creative and supportive worker who will provide intensive and focused support to families in their homes. Developing effective relationships and using strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches will help to motivate and encourage behaviour change, leading to positive differences in children’s lives.
About the Role
Working with the whole family to offer practical help, building on strengths and community support to improve daily life, positively impacting upon outcomes for children and young people. Family Help is a new service that will offer intensive and timely family support for families on the continuum from Targeted Early Help to Child in Need.
Learning from the recommendations in the Independent National Review of Children’s Social Care and the recent government response to this, we have created a new integrated service called Family Help, where both Social Workers and Keyworkers (AQWs) will engage, support and encourage families to make positive changes in their lives.
Family Help will focus on strong and consistent professional relationships, responding more quickly and intensively to families so that they get the right help at the right time. Building on workers’ capacity to listen, understand and respond to trauma, and supporting children and families to build strength, resilience, confidence and parenting capacity. By unlocking the potential of family and community networks, we will support more children to stay safely at home, and when this is not possible, to remain with wider family and friends.
By supporting staff through regular reflective supervision, ensuring positive training and career pathways, we hope that staff will embrace this more intensive way of working and remain in post longer, providing our families with the professional consistency they need, want and deserve. Our duties to Children in Need have not changed, but we are looking to improve our approach to achieve improved sustained outcomes and to make sure that we deploy the right staff to offer the right approaches promptly when families need our help.
An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.
About You
To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:
- Degree in Social Work approved by the Social Work England (SWE) or equivalent social work qualification, i.e. Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or Diploma in Social Work. The worker must also be registered with Social Work England.
- Be an experienced Level 2/3 social worker in a children’s social work team.
- Experience of working in access/duty/intake; children in need, child protection, care proceedings, safeguarding, and looked-after children work. And experience in undertaking Section 47 enquiries.
- Experience and understanding of using performance indicators to monitor and improve performance.
- Able to analyse information to reach sound decisions, often under pressure, and take responsibility for their outcome and regularly report to the Team manager.
- Experience of working with service users from all walks of life and backgrounds.
- Possession of a valid driving licence and access to a vehicle.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Interested in Flexible Working?
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:
Simone Greensmith - Team manager
Telephone: 0116 3059045
Email: Simone.Greensmith@leics.gov.uk
Social Worker - Level Three employer: Golearnleicestershire
Leicestershire County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment for Senior Kinship Assessment Social Workers. With flexible working options, employees can achieve a healthy work-life balance while contributing to the welfare of children within their family networks. The council prioritises professional development, providing ample opportunities for growth and advancement in a meaningful career dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Level Three
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Golearnleicestershire.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Golearnleicestershire!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Golearnleicestershire, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Golearnleicestershire or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker - Level Three
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Golearnleicestershire:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Golearnleicestershire! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Golearnleicestershire
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
