Social Worker (Children's)

CORNWALL COUNCIL; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking a dedicated Social Worker to join its team focused on supporting young people aged 16–18. In this rewarding role, you’ll lead care planning, collaborate with various partners, and conduct risk assessments. The ideal candidate will hold a Social Work qualification and have experience working with children in care. A competitive salary and a supportive work environment with training opportunities are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Defined benefit pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Employee health and wellbeing programme

Employee benefits scheme with discounts

Qualifications

• Hold a Social Work qualification and are Social Work England registered.
• Have experience working with children in care and/or care leavers.
• Communicate brilliantly with young people and understand the challenges they face.
• Can work independently and manage a busy caseload.
• Have strong assessment and risk management skills.
• Are I.T. literate and hold a full driving licence.
• Knowledge of working with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead care planning and pathway planning for young people aged 16–18.
• Collaborate with partners to deliver tailored solutions that meet individual needs.
• Carry out thorough risk assessments and create risk-management plans.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with young people.

Skills

Social Work qualification

Experience working with children in care

Communication skills

Independent working

Assessment and risk management skills

I.T. literacy

Driving licence

Knowledge of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children

Education

DipSW, BA Social Work, or equivalent

Job description

The Service and Team

We’re looking for a dedicated Social Worker to join our 16+ and Separated Children Seeking Asylum Service—a dynamic, high‑performing team recognised for its strong partnership approach. In this rewarding role, you’ll support young people aged 16–18 who are in care, leaving care, or seeking asylum, helping them feel secure and ready for independence.

Our service works in close partnership with Carefree and a wide network of agencies to provide holistic, joined‑up support that transforms life chances. You’ll be part of a multi‑disciplinary team of professionals—including social workers, youth workers, housing specialists, and mental health experts—all committed to helping young people thrive.

The Role

As a Social Worker, you’ll lead on care planning and pathway planning for young people aged 16–18, ensuring they have the right support to prepare for adulthood. You’ll collaborate with housing, health, education, and community partners to deliver tailored solutions that meet individual needs.

Your work will include carrying out thorough risk assessments and creating risk‑management plans to keep young people safe. Building strong, trusting relationships will be central to your role—empowering young people to achieve their goals and feel valued.

What you’ll need to succeed

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Hold a Social Work qualification (DipSW, BA Social Work, or equivalent) and are Social Work England registered.
• Have experience working with children in care and/or care leavers.
• Communicate brilliantly with young people and understand the challenges they face.
• Can work independently and manage a busy caseload.
• Have strong assessment and risk management skills.
• Are I.T. literate and hold a full driving licence.
• Knowledge of working with Unaccompanied Asylum‑Seeking Children is desirable.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of an Outstanding service that truly changes lives.
• Work in a supportive, collaborative team with access to specialist expertise.
• Enjoy a role that’s varied, rewarding, and impactful.
• Benefit from ongoing training and development opportunities.

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, while still ensuring that service needs are met.

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:

• a competitive salary.
• a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions
• a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave.
• A national award‑winning employee health and wellbeing programme
• Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services.

Additional Information

The full role profiles are attached here:

Social Worker (NQSW)

Advanced Social Worker

Experienced Social Worker

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Charlotte Trevenna on [e-mail]

Application Process

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 demonstrate why 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.