Social Worker - Children in Care

Peterborough City Council; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Peterborough is seeking a proactive Social Worker for their Children in Care team. This full-time role involves supporting children and young people, conducting trauma-informed assessments, and leading collaborative efforts. Applicants should be registered with Social Work England and have a full driving licence. This position offers competitive benefits, including generous leave and development opportunities.

Benefits

Generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays

Sick pay

Local government pension scheme

Development opportunities including apprenticeships

Paid volunteering hours

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in social work and eagerness to learn.
• Ability to manage diverse caseloads in a supportive team environment.
• Experience with trauma-informed assessments and care planning.

Responsibilities

• Support and safeguard children and young people.
• Drive assessments and create tailored care plans.
• Lead a collaborative multi-disciplinary team.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Team collaboration

Problem-solving creativity

Understanding of current legislation

Education

Current registration with Social Work England

Tools

Full Driving licence

Job description

All about the role

We are seeking a reflective, proactive, and resilient social worker with a passion for making a real difference. Our goal as a Corporate Parent is to achieve permanency, long‑term stability, and successful transitions into adulthood for our young people. We have high aspirations for our children and aim to achieve the best outcomes through SMART goals and a trauma‑informed, nurturing approach. At Peterborough, we strive for aspirational outcomes for the children we care for. As a Social Worker in our Children in Care team, you will play a crucial role in supporting and safeguarding children and young people. You will drive trauma‑informed assessments, create tailored clinical care plans, and advocate for your young people and their support network. You will lead a collaborative multi‑disciplinary team, professionally challenge and support, and ensure birth families are engaged and supported, reviewing reunification possibilities.

There is a full time role and also a part time role of 18.5 hours available. This is a rolling campaign, so please don't wait for the closing date to apply. We aim to review all applications quickly and contact you soon after your first application.

All about you

• Current registration with Social Work England
• Diligent and detail‑oriented
• Experienced, while being eager to learn
• Full Driving licence and willing and able to travel between locations
• In‑depth knowledge of current legislation and guidance
• Thrives in diverse, supportive teams and feels empowered to make important decisions, using creativity to solve challenging situations with innovative solutions

All about our Team

Our team dynamics are built on mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to making a difference. You will be part of a team that values open communication, continuous learning, and peer support. Our service boasts a wealth of neurodiversity, cultural diversity, and experienced social workers, enriching our approach to reflective practice and learning. Our committed and passionate social workers support each other, with manageable caseloads and a focus on life‑changing results. Our purpose‑built office offers large river and green space views and is conveniently located near main road and rail transport links, fostering collaboration and seamless integration of services for the best outcomes for children in care.

All about our Benefits

We value our colleagues and have developed a number of benefits in addition to our generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays, sick pay and local government pension scheme.

• Access to a range of benefits via our Employee Benefits Platform, including in‑store and online discounts as well as our Cycle to Work and Home & Electronics schemes
• Buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro‑rata)
• Access to car lease scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities including apprenticeships to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to our equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to receive Employee Recognition Awards

All about our Commitments

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success. We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible. If you are disabled and require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] we will work with you to meet your needs.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you've already applied and completed the recruitment process for this position within the last three months, there's no need to reapply. We really appreciate your interest and thank you for considering us.