Are you an experienced Social Worker with a passion for supporting families and creating brighter futures? Are you looking to broaden your knowledge and take the next step in your career?
If so, Devon County Council is offering an exciting opportunity to join our specialist Child and Parent Assessment Team (CPAT). This is your chance to make a real difference by delivering high-quality assessments and interventions that help families thrive.
About the Child and Parent Assessment Team (CPAT)
CPAT work within Children’s Services in Devon to provide specialist, high-quality and specific parenting assessments using the ParentAssess model for both community-based assessments and fostering placements where a parent and their baby or young child have been placed together with a fostering family.
CPAT is a countywide service and is dedicated to ensuring parents and children have the opportunity and support to thrive within the community, with the ultimate aim of moving on and living together permanently.
The Role
Hours: Part-time, Hours per week (3 days per week / FTE).
Base: Either Exeter (County Hall), Totnes (Follaton House) or Barnstaple (Taw View) depending on successful applicant.
As an Assessing Social Worker within the Child and Parent Assessment Team, you’ll work closely with foster carers, family practitioners, and children’s social workers throughout Devon to deliver focused parenting assessments - typically lasting 8–12 weeks. Your work will be pivotal in helping make early permanency decisions for children, often within pre-proceedings or court processes.
CPAT is a countywide service as part of our wider Kinship Assessment Service. Due to this we have flexible base locations across Devon and can offer a permanent base in either Exeter at County Hall, Totnes at Follaton House or Barnstaple at Taw View depending on preference.
About You
As an experienced Social Worker, you will be passionate about improving the lives of children and Young People in Devon. Using a restorative approach you will be able to demonstrate:
1. A recognised social work qualification & SWE registration
2. Completion of your ASYE
3. Experience in multi-agency and court settings
4. Strong communication, planning, and recording skills
5. A child-centred approach and commitment to best practice
6. A valid UK driving licence and access to a car (exceptions may apply under the Equality Act)
Why Join the Children & Parent Assessment Team (CPAT)?
7. Be part of a forward-thinking, supportive team reshaping foster care in Devon
8. Play a key role in Devon’s improvement journey
9. Influence real change in the lives of children and families
10. Work in a collaborative, restorative environment
To find out more about working for CPAT or for further information on the role, please contact CPAT Team Manager Amy McDowell for a friendly, informal chat:
Email:
Tel: 01392 385526
The closing date for this vacancy is 18 January 2026. Apply early to avoid disappointment, the vacancy may close before this date if a sufficient number of applications are submitted.
Please Note: At this time, we are only accepting applications from candidates who are currently residing in the UK and are unable to consider overseas applications for this service.
Additional Information
11. Devon County Council values diversity and we welcome applicants who share our commitment to inclusion and equality. We are committed to providing an inclusive and safe environment. More information can be found on our
12. hybrid, part-time, condensed hours)
13. Please visit our page for more information
14. We’re committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment
15. This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English
16. Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice
17. This role requires a DBS disclosure
REQ009030 - Children's Social Care