Restarting your Social Work career- Returning to Social Work

Cyngor Caerdydd/Cardiff Council; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Cardiff Council is seeking a Social Work Assistant to support children and families. This role offers a temporary contract with opportunities for professional development and re-registration with Social Care Wales. Join a supportive team dedicated to improving outcomes for children.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Flexible working culture

Hybrid working

Market supplement

Qualifications

• Excellent assessment skills and ability to write concise records.
• Good team player with strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support children and young people through assessment and planning.
• Work closely with communities and local services.

Skills

Communication

Organization

IT Skills

Assessment Skills

Education

Social Work Degree

Job description

Lots of people take career breaks for a variety of reasons. The good thing about a social work degree is that it is generic and provides lots of transferable skills.

If you would like to re-start your Social Work career, Cardiff would like to hear from you.

We are able to offer you a temporary contract working with us as a Social Work Assistant, giving you the opportunity to gain the hours of practice needed to re-register with Social Care Wales.

Once you re-register with Social Care Wales, we would support you to apply for a Social Worker position within the local authority.

Benefits Cardiff offers

• Market Supplement
• Grow and develop
• UNICEF Child Friendly City
• Think Family’ approach
• Generous annual leave

Apply and if shortlisted, we will guarantee you an interview in the next few weeks. We can provide help and guidance with your application and interview preparation. All you need to do is get in touch.

About the Service

• In Cardiff, we have developed an innovative program which will provide you with a mentor (outside of your team of work) who will support you to identify, develop, and meet your ongoing training needs and ensure that you are ready to progress to the next step — which is the university-based consolidation course.
• Cardiff is the only local authority in South Wales to provide independent practice assessors to assist your progression through this, and to ensure that you receive the support you need to successfully complete this stage of your social work career.
• We have a comprehensive training program which will allow you to access all of the mandatory training along with regular support groups to ensure you have contact with other newly qualified workers!
• Cardiff offers the opportunity to grow and develop through high-quality training, regular and effective supervision, and a wide variety of opportunities to pursue career development, for example, just this year we have 10 internal employees’ progress to higher positions within our Social Work teams.
• Cardiff benefits from being the capital of Wales and is a growing city with a diverse population. The children of Cardiff need social workers who can respond to the diversity of needs and experiences, which in turn offers social workers the opportunity to develop expertise and to lead practice within Wales. Cardiff is also the first city in the UK to be declared a UNICEF Child Friendly City that places the rights of children and young people at the head of our policies and strategies.

About the job

Our approach to Social Work

We have redesigned our services to follow the child’s journey and created locality teams that enable workers to link closely with communities and local services. There is a healthy culture of learning, support, and family across our social work teams.

The teams work from a strengths-based (Signs of Safety) approach to meet the needs of young people and their families. We have a diverse variety of casework, individual, dedicated, and regular senior management support alongside progression opportunities for successful candidates.

Parents have the most significant influence on children and their future lives. It is our belief that outcomes for children are best when they are supported to grow and achieve within their own families. This belief has driven the ‘Think Family’ approach, which looks at the family as a whole and co-ordinates support across public services, tailored to each family’s needs and strengths.

This post requires

• Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced checks.
• Registration with Social Care Wales
• Full valid driving licence and full use of a car.
• Excellent assessment skills and the ability to write concise records and reports.

You will be a good team player, with excellent communication, organization, and IT skills.

Benefits offered

Cardiff is frequently found at the top of lists of best cities in the UK to live in, so come join us and see what we can offer.

• A generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days per year to a maximum of 33 days after 5 years, with the option to purchase additional leave to a maximum of 10 days.
• Our working culture is flexible, with a flexi scheme allowing you to work to a schedule that suits you.
• Hybrid working – supporting you to flexibly deliver your role whether on visits, from an office, or your home.

Effective from 1st April 2025, these roles attract a market supplement of £5,000 (full-time equivalent) (£40,235 – £44,513). This payment is reviewed annually.

This is just some of what Cardiff has to offer. Visit our Social Work website for more information about our benefits and hear from some of our social workers about why Cardiff is the place to be.

• Social Workers who took time off and had a career break
• Final-year Social Work students and recent graduates

You will be able to demonstrate excellent assessment skills and report-writing abilities.

You will be a good team player, with excellent communication, organization, and IT skills.

We can offer permanent positions in the following teams:

Locality Teams

Cardiff Safeguarding and Children Looked After teams are based in three localities: St Mellons (East), Fairwater (North), and Cardiff Bay (South). You will support children and young people through robust assessment, outcome-focused planning, and effective intervention within your community.

Child Health and Disability

An innovative team working with children with complex needs, supporting their transition to adulthood, and providing comprehensive, child-centered plans.

Intake and Assessment

A fast-paced team undertaking Well-being and S47 assessments, providing short-term interventions, and working creatively under the Signs of Safety model.

When applying, please specify your preferred team to help us tailor the interview panel. Thank you.

For informal discussions, contact: [e-mail]

Additional information

Please refer to the job description and person specification when applying.

Effective from 1st April 2025, this post attracts a £5,000 market supplement, reviewed annually.

This role requires registration with Social Care Wales and a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced check.

Interviews are face-to-face in Cardiff. If unable to attend in person, contact us before applying.

Safeguarding and Child Protection are priorities. We aim to ensure safety and protection for children and vulnerable adults.

This vacancy is suitable for post sharing.

Applications in English and Welsh are accepted. Welsh applications will not be treated less favorably.

For an informal discussion, contact: [e-mail]

Please ensure all application information is accurate, original, and truthful. The Council does not accept CVs. When completing your application, refer to the information on our website.

Job Category: Social Services - Childrens

Working Pattern/Contract: Full Time Permanent