Children and Families Social Work Practitioner

Gateshead Council; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Gateshead is seeking experienced social workers for the Assessment and Intervention Team. You will lead on children’s cases, ensuring they receive timely, evidence-based support. The role requires a recognised social work qualification and significant child-care experience, with a focus on multi-disciplinary teamwork and effective planning. Flexible working options and a generous benefits package are offered.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Outstanding Pension Scheme

Generous Annual Leave

Flexible Working Hours

Learning & Development opportunities

Health & Wellbeing Support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Exclusive Discounts

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England.
• Current driving licence and access to a car or mobility support.
• Significant experience in statutory child-care social work.

Responsibilities

• Lead professional for Children in Need and child protection cases.
• Create and implement evidence-based care and pathway plans.
• Foster effective multi-disciplinary working across services.

Skills

Statutory child-care social work experience

Planning and delivering interventions

Understanding of child development and legislation

Risk management

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Education

Recognised Social Work qualification

Job description

Overview

Working together to build safer futures for children and families

Who We Are & What We Stand For

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match. We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time. We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive. At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Now’s the time to join us. Our plans are bold, exciting, and focused on creating the best environment for social work to thrive.

Our Children’s Social Care team work to provide and further develop services to children and families across Gateshead to offer a focused and joined up approach to offer young people the best possible start in life. This is incredibly important work and includes an excellent early help and prevention service, assessment, intervention and safeguarding supporting children and their families, services for children in and having experienced our care, our fostering, residential and adoption services, support for vulnerable adolescents & those with disabilities and many more. It can be challenging but very rewarding work, as we passionately pursue our goal of helping Gateshead children to thrive.

The Assessment and Intervention Team provide a vital service supporting children and families from initial contact through to intervention and case closure. We’re proud to be rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted (2024), with strengthened early help systems, holistic community-based support, and a child-centred, relationship-based approach. Our teams are ambitious, innovative, and deeply committed to improving outcomes for children and families. We’re investing in our workforce, expanding leadership, and embedding restorative and relational practice across our services.

Be Part of Something Special

We’re currently recruiting experienced and passionate social workers to join our Assessment and Intervention Team. You’ll work with families at pivotal moments, ensuring children receive the right help at the right time, and supporting safe transitions to Child Protection, Looked After Children, or legal pathways when needed.

What You'll Get To Do

• Act as the lead professional for a caseload of Children in Need (CiN), looked after children, and child protection cases, delivering skilled assessments and purposeful, timely interventions aligned with policies and guidance.
• Create and implement evidence-based care and pathway plans that promote the child’s best interests and comply with service policies and procedures. Ensure all cases are regularly reviewed in line with individual needs and legislation, actively involving children, young people, and families in assessments, planning, and reviews.
• Support the educational aspirations and overall safety, health, and wellbeing of children and young people through intensive interventions and support.
• Foster effective multi-disciplinary working across services - such as family hubs, schools, and specialist support - to deliver holistic, coordinated care.
• Work within the Council’s delegation framework, maintain accurate and timely records, and ensure all decisions and documentation reflect the child’s voice and journey.
• Continuously improve practice through training, supervision, and appraisal, contributing to service development and maintaining professional standards and registration.

What You'll Bring

• A recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
• A current driving licence and access to a car or means to mobility support.
• Significant experience in statutory child-care social work within multi-disciplinary settings.
• Strong skills in planning and delivering interventions with complex families.
• A deep understanding of child development, social work legislation, and systemic approaches.
• Confidence in managing risk, responding to separation and loss, and using the child’s voice to inform decisions.

If successful you will have to apply for an enhanced Disclosure.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides:
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases.

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation

How To Apply

You can apply online using the link below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications.

We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.

If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via

Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.