Principal Social Worker (Children's)

Please note that although the closing date for this advert is 12th April 2026, applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis. This means that the advert will be withdrawn should the vacancies become filled before the closing date.

A rare opportunity for genuine career progression without moving into management — our Principal Social Worker role offers a Team Manager salary while keeping you at the heart of direct practice. The Service and Team Cornwall isn’t just a fantastic place to live — it’s an inspiring place to grow your social work career. Fresh from our ‘Good with Outstanding features’ Ofsted judgement (July 2024), we’re a service on the rise: ambitious, bold and focused on delivering real impact for children and families.

Our transformed Family Help model brings together the best of Early Help and Child in Need practice, coded-sized with practitioners to deliver more effective, truly child-centred support. We’re investing where it counts: our specialist Parent Assess team delivers high quality in-house assessments, and every Family Help Team is strengthened by an Integrated Family Domestic Abuse Support Advisor and dedicated clinical psychology input, ensuring a confident response to domestic abuse and complex needs.

We champion meaningful family participation through Family Group Conferencing, Family Led Meetings and consistent use of genograms and ecomaps. Families also benefit from our award winning Family Information Service, a strengthened parenting offer and one of the best care leaver services in the country.

Ofsted recognised the strength of our culture and approach: “Senior leaders and politicians are relentless in their drive to continue to improve the lives of Cornwall’s children and families… Staff’s care, commitment and child-focused approach shine through.” — Ofsted, July 2024.

Cornwall offers forward thinking social work in a place where wellbeing comes first. With stunning coastlines, strong communities and a culture that values balance and professional pride, this is a service where practitioners thrive — and where your leadership will shape the future of children’s services.

The Role: Research (CCInform 2026) shows that many social workers feel their only progression route is through management with few senior opportunities for those who want to remain in direct practice. Our Principal Social Worker role changes that. This is a specialist practice leadership position, paid at Team Manager level, designed for experienced practitioners who want to influence practice quality while staying close to children, families and frontline work.

As a Principal Social Worker, you will hold a small caseload of direct work, deputise for your Team Manager, and play a key role in developing the skills, confidence and professional curiosity of your team. You’ll be supported by a comprehensive core learning offer and a clear qualification and career pathway, giving you the structure and space to continue developing your expertise. We value continuous learning and recognise its impact on outcomes — with progression and rewards that reflect your contribution.

Roles are available in teams across the county, including Family Help, Children in Care, Kinship, Family Plus, and the Disabled Children. We are an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer, and we will assess applicants on their merits. Cornwall Council is committed to safeguarding and following safer recruitment principles to help make sure our staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, young people and adults at risk. It’s a vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keeping all service users safe from harm.