At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Assessment Team to improve outcomes for children and families in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Cambridgeshire County Council, committed to diversity and community welfare.
- Benefits: Comprehensive wellbeing package, relocation support, and retention payments up to £9,118.
- Other info: Enjoy a hybrid working model and opportunities for career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your professional skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in statutory children's services and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Our Benefits
- 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.
- 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.
About the role
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 both our South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Assessment Teams! 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 or Scott House in Huntingdon), visits 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.
Closing Date: Sunday 23rd August. 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.
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. You will:
- 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. For a full list of the requirements of the role, please check out the Job Description & Person Specification.
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. We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we believe benefits our employees, the organisation and our communities. 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 Practitioners – Assessment Team – Cambridge and Huntingdon, United Kingdom employer: Recruit4Mum
Recruit4Mum is an excellent employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its employees, offering a supportive work culture in the heart of Chester-le-Street. With benefits such as a bonus scheme, enhanced holiday entitlement, and access to an Employee Assistance helpline, we ensure our team feels valued and empowered. Join us for meaningful work that contributes to a safe and inclusive environment while enjoying opportunities for personal and professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioners – Assessment Team – Cambridge and Huntingdon, United Kingdom
✨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 Recruit4Mum.
✨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 Recruit4Mum!
✨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 Recruit4Mum, 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 Recruit4Mum 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 Practitioners – Assessment Team – Cambridge and Huntingdon, United Kingdom
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 Recruit4Mum:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Recruit4Mum! 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 Recruit4Mum
✨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.
