Orchard House is a renowned national provider of child-centered assessment and intervention services established in 2005. We provide residential parenting assessments, alongside psychological and other related assessments to Family Courts and Local Authorities nationwide.
We were rated Outstanding in every category by Ofsted in November 2025, recognising the expertise, compassion, and impact of our team.
Our approach is grounded in:
✔ Trauma‑informed and attachment‑based practice
✔ Reflective, relational teamwork
✔ High‑quality multidisciplinary collaboration
At the heart of our work is a deep commitment to safeguarding and supporting vulnerable children and their families. We provide a safe, nurturing environment where families can demonstrate and improve their parenting abilities. Alongside assessments, our team delivers evidence‑based therapeutic interventions, enabling you to witness the positive changes this work brings to families.
The Role
We are looking for a dedicated Social Worker to join our highly skilled, supportive and reflective team. You will work with families to assess and support parenting capacity, contributing to improved outcomes for children.
Unlike traditional social work posts, you will not hold your own caseload. Instead, you will work across the full span of different assessments - providing observations, supporting key meetings, and helping to shape clear, well‑evidenced recommendations.
This role is ideal for someone who wants to deepen their skills in family assessment, safeguarding, and attachment‑informed practice. It may also suit someone who is looking to step back from the demands of carrying their own caseload, while still making a significant and meaningful contribution to the lives of children and families.
You will work closely with Consultant Social Workers, Clinical Psychologists, Family Support Workers, and Family Intervention Workers, directly shaping the futures of vulnerable children and families.
What You Will Be Doing
* Contributing to high-quality evidence‑based assessments
* Building meaningful relationships with families to support positive outcomes
* Providing observations and safeguarding input
* Covering meetings, reviews or multi‑agency discussions
* Supporting parents to develop insight, understand risks, and strengthen parenting skills
* Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
* Keeping accurate records
* Participating in weekly case‑mapping
You will be based at Orchard House Family Services and in the two residential family centres, both of which are based in Taunton, Somerset.
About You
* Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration
* Experience working with children and families
* Compassionate approach with a commitment to child welfare
* Strong assessment, communication, and relationship‑building skills
* Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team
* Commitment to reflective practice and professional development
Why Join Orchard House?
⭐ Outstanding Ofsted-rated organisation
⭐ Warm, friendly, and supportive team environment
⭐ Weekly case mapping and high‑quality supervision
⭐ Opportunities to grow specialist assessment and safeguarding skills
⭐ Trauma‑informed, relational practice embedded across the service
Interested?
If you are passionate about making a difference to children's lives and thrive in a collaborative environment, we would love to hear from you.
Further information and a full application pack can be found on our website. We warmly welcome informal conversations. To learn more about the role or our service, please contact Sophie Pinder (Managing Director) at 01823 351785.
* Shortlisting notification: Thursday 12th March, by 1500
* Interviews: Thursday 19th March – In person
ORCHARD HOUSE IS COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS. APPLICATIONS WILL BE CLOSELY CHECKED AND SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL REQUIRE AN ENHANCED DBS CHECK.
#J-18808-Ljbffr