Social Worker (CAT)

Children's Social Work Matters; Sowerby Bridge; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Induction programme

Regular supervision

Learning & development

Job summary

Calderdale Council’s Children’s Social Care is seeking a qualified social worker to join the Children’s Assessment Team. You will provide a high-quality service for children in need of support and protection, conducting single and pre-birth assessments, section 47 enquiries, and progressing cases through early intervention and care planning.

The post emphasises low caseloads, reflective supervision, and strong learning culture.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker (BA/DipSW/CQSW or equivalent)
• Evidence of qualifying experience within statutory children and families’ service
• Registration with Social Work England and working at secure level 2 status (level 3 progress)**

Responsibilities

• Provide a quality service to children in need of support and protection
• Undertake child and family single assessments and comprehensive pre-birth assessments
• Progress cases via early intervention, child in need, or child protection processes
• Instigate pre-proceedings work under the Public Law Outline and initiate care proceedings when required
• Assist with age assessments, human rights assessments, and required reports

Skills

Social work

Education

BA/DipSW/CQSW or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

Please note: Internal, at risk or redeployee applicants will be seen in the first instance.

Job Description

Please note: Internal, at risk or redeployee applicants will be seen in the first instance.

Calderdale is a beautiful metropolitan borough in the heart of the Yorkshire Pennines, situated between Manchester and Leeds. The spectacular natural landscape, vibrant towns, quirky culture, and tremendous architecture make it a great place to live and work. Its ideal location allows for easy access via the motorway or rail into the town centre or the surrounding area.

Systemic practice lies at the heart of our vision and we are looking for passionate committed people who can make a meaningful difference to our children. We have a commitment to maintaining low caseloads, which ensures practitioners are given opportunities to work effectively and robustly. Calderdale is a place where you can make a difference.

The benefits of working for Calderdale Children’s Social Care are that you will be supported to provide the very best service for our children. Quality reflective supervision is provided and there is very much a learning culture within the service. We give a commitment to maintaining caseloads at an appropriate level, which ensures practitioners, are given the opportunities to work effectively and robustly. We value our social work staff and in recognition we offer a free car parking permit, given a comprehensive induction program and provided with regular person focused supervision to meet your well-being, training, and development needs.

Children’s Assessment Team has four pods which consist of a practice manager, advanced practitioner and five social workers with administration support. As a social worker within the team, you will be responsible for providing a quality service to our children in need of support and protection. The team undertakes child and family single assessments, comprehensive pre-birth assessments, section 47 enquiries and can cover all aspects of planning, whilst proactively progressing cases via the appropriate means such as; early intervention, child in need, child protection, instigating pre proceedings work under the public law outline and at time initiating care proceedings. Case’s are held by the assessing social work team for a short period up until an appropriate transfer point to the relevant locality or children looked after team. At times we are also required to undertake other forms of relevant children’s assessment such as; age assessments, human right assessment, section 7 and 37 reports / child impact reports.

We Will Offer

• Supportive management and a service-wide commitment to continuous improvement.
• A creative and challenging team with supportive colleagues.
• Opportunities to develop your supervision and management skills in a supportive environment.
• Supervision and appraisal arrangements to build your skills and to assist you in your career development.
• An excellent learning and development programme that reflects your needs and the skills that you will need to develop.

Applications will be considered from qualified social worker (BA/DipSW/CQSW or equivalent), registered with Social Work England and who can demonstrate qualifying experience gained within statutory children and families’ service and practicing at a secure level 2 status. Level 3 social workers are expected to provide evidence of their progression status.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. Applicants to posts that are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will require a DBS from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.

Closing Date: 20th September 2026

Interview Date: tbc

For more information about Social Care in Calderdale please visit: http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/jobs/social-care-calderdale

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year (unless exceptions apply) and meet the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Calderdale will reimburse the post holders required professional membership, annually.

We may utilise digital interview methods.

As part of our Vision (https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision/) we aim to be a talented, resilient and inclusive community. We welcome applications from all and offer a variety of flexible working / job share opportunities.

All applications are anonymised before being seen by the selection panel.

As part of our fair recruitment process, we ask that all applications are written by the candidate and that Artificial Intelligence (AI) use is limited, unless assistance is required as a reasonable adjustment for a disability. Content should be truthful, accurate, evidence based and not embellished – see guidance.

For support on your application please read our Application Booklet or visit our Employment Hub.