Social Worker - Childrens Assessment Team

Calderdale Council; Halifax; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council is seeking a qualified Social Worker for its Children’s Assessment Team. This role involves assessing and supporting children in need, ensuring effective service delivery. Key responsibilities include conducting comprehensive assessments and case progressions. Applicants must have relevant qualifications and experience within a statutory context. The organization values continuous improvement and offers a supportive environment for professional development.

Benefits

Supportive management

Opportunities for skill development

Excellent learning programs

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experience gained within statutory children and families' service necessary.
• Practising at secure level 2 status required.

Responsibilities

• Provide a quality service to children in need of support.
• Undertake child and family single assessments and section 47 enquiries.
• Progress cases through early intervention and planning.

Skills

Experience in statutory children and families' services

Ability to work with children in need

Supervision and management skills

Strong communication skills

Education

BA/DipSW/CQSW or equivalent

Job description

Post Ref: CC432

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.

As a social worker within the Children’s Assessment 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 covers all aspects of planning, whilst proactively progressing cases through early intervention, child in need, child protection, and by instigating pre‑proceedings work under the public law outline and, at times, initiating care proceedings. Cases are held by the assessing social work team for a short period until an appropriate transfer point to the relevant locality or the children looked‑after team. At times we also undertake other forms of relevant children’s assessment such as age assessments, human rights assessments, section 7 and 37 reports and 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 workers (BA/DipSW/CQSW or equivalent), registered with Social Work England and who can demonstrate qualifying experience gained within statutory children and families’ service and practising 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: Sunday 25th January 2026

Interview Date: TBC

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

We may utilise digital interview methods.

On 30 January 2019, the Council declared a climate emergency in a bold move to step up its action to tackle climate change. Calderdale Council embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and we are committed to providing an environment that is inclusive. We encourage applications from people who share our commitment to challenge inequality and promote diversity across Calderdale. We particularly welcome applications from communities that are currently under‑represented in our organisation. All applications are anonymised before being seen by the selection panel.