Principal Social Worker (Children's)

Cornwall Council; England; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the United Kingdom seeks dedicated Principal Social Workers to enhance the lives of children and families. This role involves managing a small caseload, supervising fellow practitioners, and ensuring evidence-based practices are followed. The council offers a competitive salary range of £46,356 to £55,272, a generous relocation package, and various flexible working options to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Applicants should be qualified social workers with significant experience in this field.

Benefits

Competitive starting salary equivalent to a Team Manager

Generous relocation package

Welcome bonus of £4000 for qualified Social Workers who are new to Cornwall

Induction to meet specific needs

Access to professional development programs

Support for temporary accommodation

Flexible working opportunities

26 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Significant experience with evidence-based social work practice.
• Ability to supervise and support social work practitioners.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage a small caseload of children and families.
• Supervise and support fellow practitioners.
• Contribute to team-based learning and development.

Skills

Evidence-based practice with children

Supervising practitioners

Relationship-based social work

Commitment to professional development

Communication skills

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

Make a difference – Children’s Social Work in Cornwall

“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 focussed approach shine through when they talk about their work. This positive working environment helps to foster a culture in which an enthusiasm and commitment to do the best for children is found at all levels in the organisation.”

Ofsted, July 2024

The Service & Team:

Social workers make a real difference to the lives of children in Cornwall. We believe that the children of Cornwall deserve the very best. We put their needs at the heart of everything we do, and we are looking for people who share our determination to improve their lives and make a brighter future. If you believe in humane, relationship-based social work with children and families we offer the opportunity to develop your social work career in an innovative and ambitious children’s service in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

As part of our commitment to outstanding practice, we have put in place a comprehensive core curriculum and career and qualification pathway for our social workers to develop their knowledge and skills to deliver the most effective social work intervention with children and families. If you are committed to continuing professional development, can demonstrate learning in your practice and in improved outcomes for the children you help and protect, we will provide you with the career options and remuneration that match your expertise.

We actively encourage the best practitioners to remain in front line practice and reward them for their commitment and expertise. The Principal Social Worker role is one of two Advanced Practitioner roles in Cornwall, aligned to the Professional Capabilities Framework, and the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Practice Supervisors. Principal Social Workers are directly involved in practice, holding a small caseload, supervising practitioners, facilitating team-based learning and deputising for the Team Manager.

The Role:

We have exciting opportunities for full time PrincipalSocialWorkers available across the County.

This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies.

This position will be subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure check.

The Principal Social Workers role requires significant experience of evidence-based practice with children and families and significant expertise in evidence-based practice. For these reasons, the salary scale for our Advanced Practitioners is the same as for our Team Managers.

Please note: If you have qualified as a Social Worker within the last 2 years, but not completed your Assessed and Supported Year of Employment (ASYE) we would welcome your application as a Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) in order to access Cornwall’s ASYE programme which runs twice yearly. You would need to apply for our NQSW adverts which are advertised separately. We are also able to consider experienced social workers who have taken a career break of between two and ten years, where their SWE registration has expired. For this route, please contact [e-mail]

Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert

What you’ll get in return:

Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met. Find out more about working and volunteering for us .

Cornwall is one of the best places in the country to live, work and bring up a family. We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff and we recognise that resilient Social Workers need a good work/life balance as well as supportive leadership and support in the workplace. Cornwall’s location and landscape offers unique opportunities for a healthier, happier way of life.

In recognition of the vital contribution you make, we offer an attractive package of benefits including:

• A competitive starting salary, equivalent to a Team Manager
• A generous relocation package
• Welcome bonus of £4000 for qualified Social Workers who are new to social work in Cornwall and have completed their ASYE
• An individualised induction to meet your specific needs and learning
• An outstanding core curriculum to support your ongoing development with a high-quality programme of evidence-based learning and development to enhance skills and practice.
• An outstanding career and qualification pathway, recognised by Ofsted, which will support your progression.
• Support from our dedicated Practice Educators throughout your progression pathway
• Regular, high-quality case and reflective supervision
• Supportive management and leadership
• Support to access temporary accommodation if moving from outside of Cornwall
• Access to a Cornwall Council lease car
• 26days paid annual leave per year (rising with length of service), plus bank holidays
• Flexible working opportunities, including part-time hours and homeworking
• A license to access Community Care Inform and Research in Practice.
• Payment of your Social Work England registration fees.
• Sponsorship for eligible overseas social work applicants

Additional Information:

Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview

Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstratewhy you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process .

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact [e-mail] if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.

Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.

We are happy to talk about flexible working options such as part-time or compressed hours. More examples of our flexible working opportunities can be foundhere - flexible working options .

Fairness and inclusion are at the heart of our vision for Cornwall. In order to best serve our communities, we are striving to achieve a diverse workforce that is inclusive of all backgrounds, cultures and identities; e.g., race, disability, sex, gender, age, religion and sexual orientation. 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, youngpeopleand adults at risk.It’sa vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keeping all service users safe from harm.

Job Info

• Job Identification 700003976
• Posting Date 01/05/2026, 03:55 PM
• Apply Before 02/08/2026, 11:59 PM
• Locations Chy Trevail, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 2FR, GB
• Job Type/Contract Type Permanent
• Available Hours 37
• Interview Dates 26th February 2026
• Advertised Salary Range £46,356 - £55,272