Job Title: Experienced Social Worker - Children's Assessment Team
Location: Calderdale
Hourly Rate: £35 per hour
Are you a dedicated and analytical Social Worker seeking a pivotal role in the initial assessment of children and families in Calderdale?
Calderdale Council is looking for an experienced and highly motivated Social Worker to join our Children's Assessment Team. We are committed to providing timely, thorough, and child-centred assessments, ensuring that children receive the right support at the right time to safeguard their well-being and promote positive outcomes. Our systemic practice approach underpins our work, focusing on strong relationships and meaningful change for families.
About the Role:
As a Social Worker in the Assessment Team, you will be at the forefront of children's services, responsible for undertaking comprehensive assessments of children and their families. This will include responding to new referrals, conducting Section 47 enquiries, and completing single assessments to inform critical decisions about a child's needs and risks. You will work collaboratively with a wide range of professionals to ensure holistic and effective interventions.
Key Responsibilities:
Manage a caseload of diverse and complex assessments for children and families.
Conduct robust and analytical single assessments, including Child in Need assessments, Section 47 enquiries, and pre-birth assessments, within statutory timescales.
Gather and synthesise information from children, families, and multi-agency partners (e.g., police, health, education, early help).
Identify and analyse risk and protective factors, making clear recommendations for intervention and future pathways (e.g., Child in Need plan, Child Protection plan, transfer to locality teams).
Produce high-quality, evidence-based written reports for internal meetings, conferences, and court proceedings where applicable.
Engage directly with children and families in a relationship-based way to understand their lived experiences and promote their active participation.
Work collaboratively with colleagues, advanced practitioners, and team managers, contributing to a learning culture through reflective supervision.
Maintain accurate, up-to-date, and legally compliant records on electronic case management systems.
What We Are Looking For:
A qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England (SWE) registration.
Minimum 3 years post-qualification experience in a frontline statutory children's social care setting, with proven experience in assessment work (e.g., Duty & Assessment, Referral & Assessment, or similar).
In-depth knowledge of relevant children's legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice in assessment and safeguarding (e.g., Children Act 1989 & 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children).
Demonstrable skills in conducting comprehensive assessments, analysing complex information, and making sound, timely decisions under pressure.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and report-writing skills, with the ability to build rapport and communicate effectively with diverse individuals and professionals.
A commitment to systemic practice and relationship-based social work.
Ability to manage a demanding workload, prioritise effectively, and work autonomously.
Resilience, empathy, and a strong commitment to child-centred practice.
Full UK driving license and access to a car for work purposes, as the role requires travel within the Calderdale area.
Ready to contribute your expertise to safeguarding children in Calderdale?
If you are an experienced and passionate Social Worker eager to make a difference in children's lives from the assessment stage, we encourage you to apply.
To Apply:
Please submit your CV outlining your relevant experience and suitability for this role to Fahmida Ahmed at or at 07441 927663.
Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.
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