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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team in delivering high-quality assessments and support for children and families.
- Company: Join Cardiff Council, a pioneer in child-friendly practices and community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and experience in social work assessment.
- Other info: Work in a vibrant city with a commitment to family-focused support.
The predicted salary is between 45091 - 48226 £ per year.
Location: Cardiff
Salary: Grade 9 – £45,091 – £48,226 + £5,000 Market Supplement
Contract: Permanent / Full Time
About the Service
Cardiff is one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most vibrant cities and is proudly the first UK city to be recognised as a UNICEF Child Friendly City. This means placing the rights, voices and wellbeing of children and young people at the heart of everything we do. Cardiff Children’s Services is built on the belief that children achieve the best outcomes when supported to thrive within their own families. Our ‘Think Family’ model promotes a holistic, strength-based approach, working collaboratively with families and partner agencies to deliver meaningful, tailored support.
About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled practitioner to join our Intake and Assessment Team in a pivotal leadership role. Working closely with the Team Manager, you will:
- Champion strength-based and trauma-informed practice
- Lead on high-quality assessments, planning and interventions
- Ensure the child’s voice is central to all decision‑making
- Provide professional leadership, guidance and reflective supervision to staff
- Hold a protected caseload of complex cases, enabling you to remain connected to frontline practice and model best practice
This role offers a rewarding balance of leadership and direct work, with real influence over practice development and service improvement.
What We’re Looking For
- Has strong leadership and supervisory skills
- Can support and develop practitioners within a busy assessment environment
- Works effectively with partner agencies to deliver high‑quality outcomes
- Is committed to promoting strength‑based, trauma‑informed practice
- Shares Cardiff’s vision of being a truly Child Friendly City
What’s on Offer
- Competitive salary Grade 9 – £45,091 to £48,226 + £5,000 market supplement
- Generous annual leave: 28 days rising to 33 days after 5 years, plus the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
- Flexible working culture with a flexi‑time scheme
- Hybrid working, balancing visits, office and home working
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- The opportunity to live and work in one of the UK’s most desirable cities
Principal Social Worker - Intake & Assessment - Cardiff Council employer: Hoop Social Work
Contact Detail:
Hoop Social Work Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Social Worker - Intake & Assessment - Cardiff Council
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Cardiff Council on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the team and the role, plus it shows our genuine interest.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to social work leadership and trauma-informed practices. We can even do mock interviews with friends to boost our confidence!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase our passion for child welfare during the interview. Share personal stories or experiences that highlight our commitment to strength-based approaches and how we’ve made a difference in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after the interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating our enthusiasm for the role can leave a lasting impression. Let’s make sure they remember us!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Social Worker - Intake & Assessment - Cardiff Council
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Child Welfare: When writing your application, let your passion for child welfare shine through. We want to see how you align with Cardiff's vision of being a Child Friendly City and how your values resonate with our strength-based approach.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: Make sure to emphasise your leadership and supervisory experience. We’re looking for someone who can guide and support practitioners, so share examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past.
Be Specific About Your Experience: Use specific examples from your previous roles to demonstrate your skills in high-quality assessments and trauma-informed practice. We love seeing concrete evidence of your expertise and how it can benefit our Intake and Assessment Team.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter and making a difference in Cardiff.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hoop Social Work
✨Know Your Strengths
Before the interview, take some time to reflect on your leadership and supervisory skills. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've supported and developed practitioners in a busy assessment environment. This will show that you understand the role and can bring valuable experience to the team.
✨Emphasise Child-Centred Practice
Since the role is all about ensuring the child's voice is central to decision-making, prepare to discuss how you've implemented strength-based and trauma-informed practices in your previous roles. Think of concrete instances where you prioritised the wellbeing of children and families in your assessments.
✨Collaborate with Partner Agencies
Cardiff Council values collaboration, so be prepared to talk about your experiences working effectively with partner agencies. Highlight any successful outcomes from these collaborations and how they contributed to high-quality results for children and families.
✨Show Your Commitment to Continuous Improvement
This role offers a chance to influence practice development, so express your enthusiasm for ongoing learning and service improvement. Share any professional development activities you've engaged in or initiatives you've led that demonstrate your commitment to enhancing social work practices.
