Children’s Social Worker – Assessment & Support in Hereford

Salary: HC8 £36,363 - £40,777 (plus £5,000 market rate supplement per year £41,363 - £45,777)

Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37

Location: Multiple locations. Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Hereford

Relocation package of up to £10,000 available

Closing date: 31/05/2026

Our Assessment and Support service is made up of three teams, which work out of three locality offices: South Locality (Ross-on-Wye), North Locality (Leominster) and Central Locality (Hereford). Each Team comprises of a Team Manager, Senior Practitioner, Social Workers, and Family Support Workers. Locality working gives you the opportunity to stay connected, meet new colleagues, and easily access support. We are proud of our restorative approach to social work - a way of working that is firmly embedded in our team culture and management style. Collaboration and reflection are at the heart of how we practice: senior managers are always available for guidance and support, especially when navigating complex cases.

The Role

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and families? We are looking for a skilled and committed Social Worker to join our Assessment Team. In this vital role, you will be the first point of contact for children, young people, and families in need of support. You will complete timely and high-quality assessments to understand each family’s circumstances, identify strengths, and determine the most appropriate help or intervention. Your work will ensure that children are safe, supported, and able to thrive with their voices at the centre of everything you do. Our focus is on working collaboratively with families from the very beginning, offering early help where possible and taking decisive action when necessary. We are committed to empowering families to make positive and lasting changes while ensuring that every child’s welfare remains our top priority. You will work directly with children and families, alongside other staff within the Directorate and partner agencies. Ensuring referrals are responded to in a child focused and timely way, you will carry out assessments and investigate concerns so that a decision can be made regarding the most appropriate support for the child and family.

About You

• Passionate about making a difference for children and families through high-quality assessments and early intervention
• Skilled in analysis, planning, and decision-making, ensuring each child’s needs are clearly understood and effectively met
• Committed to working collaboratively, inclusively, and creatively with families and partner agencies
• Resilient, reflective, and confident in managing complex situations and making sound professional judgments
• Able to thrive in a supportive, fast-paced team environment, contributing to a culture of continuous learning and improvement
• Registered with Social Work England and hold a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW)

We Offer

• A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme
• Salary range of £36,363 - £40,777 per annum
• Market rate supplement: £5,000 per annum
• Welcome Payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)
• Retention payment: £2,000 - £4,000 depending on team
• Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000
• Professional development: protected time and budget to develop yourself and your career
• Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Career progression: clear pathways to progress
• Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays
• Flexible working: including the potential for job-sharing, part-time hours and agile working
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements)
• Pick your perks - our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits

Why Choose Us?

At Herefordshire Council, every role matters and every person makes a real difference for our communities. We’re a team where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow together. Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community. Our priority is clear: to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families, and partners to make a lasting difference. It’s an exciting time to join us. We’re investing in our people and our relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner, Leeds City Council. You’ll be supported by experienced managers, continuous professional development, and a genuine team ethos that values collaboration and care.

Creating an inclusive workplace

We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to help embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups, collectives of colleagues who often share identities, life experiences or cultures and offer support and community. They also play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council.

We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks.

How to apply

To apply for a position, please upload an up-to-date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. Be sure to include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile!