At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead assessments and support families in a dynamic, impactful role.
- Company: Join the supportive Cambridgeshire County Council team dedicated to children's welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive wellbeing package, flexible working, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to diversity and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your professional skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in statutory children's services.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 35892 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced, passionate and enthusiastic Senior Practitioner who has the child’s voice at the heart of everything they do to join us in our South Cambridgeshire Assessment Team!
This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a high-performing and supportive team, where your leadership, experience and professional judgement will be highly valued. The Assessment Team is the first point of contact for statutory intervention. Our work is dynamic, fast-paced and focused on delivering timely, proportionate responses to children and families at levels 3 and 4 of the Cambridgeshire Levels of Need framework. We work closely with our Targeted Support Services to ensure that families can be stepped down to early help when appropriate, helping to strengthen relationships and prevent escalation.
What We Offer
- Dedicated administrative support from Children’s Information and Advice Officers (CIAOs) to reduce paperwork and free up time for direct work
- Monthly reflective supervision and team learning sessions
- A creative and collaborative team environment, where your ideas and professional voice are heard
- A hybrid working model with a mix of office-based (Fawcett House in Cambridge) and remote working. However, please note that as part of the Council’s ongoing Asset Review, the Fawcett House office base may change during 2026. Teams currently located at Fawcett House may be relocated to an alternative site within the County, which in most cases will be in close proximity to the current location.
- Opportunities for progression through our career development pathways
If this sounds like an environment where you would thrive, apply now! If you require more information or would like an informal chat please contact Nathalie on 01223 475920 or email joinus@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Closing Date: Sunday 5th July. Interviews will be held week commencing 13th July.
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.
What will you be doing?
As a Senior Social Worker, you will manage a complex and varied caseload and support less experienced colleagues through mentoring and modelling best practice. You will lead statutory assessments, strategy discussions, Section 47 enquiries, and produce high-quality reports for court under Sections 7, 37 and 31. You’ll also be expected to complete SWET assessments and care plans where needed, contributing to positive and sustainable outcomes for children. You will support the Team Manager where required including the planning, allocation and review of cases, alongside supporting with the recruitment and induction of new staff.
About you
We’re looking for a motivated and confident individual who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families. You’ll be confident in analysis and decision-making, emotionally resilient, and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining high standards.
- Be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England
- Have significant experience in statutory children’s services, ideally including Section 17 and 47 assessments, and experience of court work (Section 37 and 31 reports)
- Be familiar with SWET and its application in care proceedings
- Have strong written and verbal communication skills, with a child-centred approach to assessment and planning
- Be confident working both independently and collaboratively
- Be able to travel across the county independently as required
This is a Senior Social Worker post, you must be able to demonstrate experience in complex case management, court proceedings, and providing informal support or supervision to others.
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 (eligibility applies)
- Scalable retention payments of up to £9,118 over a 3 year period, starting after your first full year of employment
- 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 Leader. 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. Through a Guaranteed Interview Scheme, we will offer an interview to all applicants who disclose a disability and meet the essential criteria for a job vacancy. On your application form you can indicate you are disabled. Some examples of reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process 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.
Senior Practitioner - Assessment Team in Cambridge employer: Grafham Water Center
Cambridgeshire County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment for Senior Practitioners in the Assessment Team. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, professional development, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, staff benefit from dedicated administrative support, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for career progression. Located in the vibrant city of Cambridge, employees enjoy a dynamic role that directly impacts the lives of children and families, making it a truly rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioner - Assessment Team in Cambridge
✨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 Grafham Water Center.
✨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 Grafham Water Center!
✨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 Grafham Water Center, 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 Grafham Water Center 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 Senior Practitioner - Assessment Team in Cambridge
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 Grafham Water Center:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Grafham Water Center! 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 Grafham Water Center
✨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.
