Team: Child and Parent Assessment Team (CPAT)
Hours: Part-time, Hours per week
Base: Can be Exeter (County Hall), Totnes (Follaton House) or Barnstaple (Taw View)
Are you an experienced Social Worker with a passion for supporting families and shaping brighter futures? If so, we have an exciting opportunity to be part of Devon County Council’s specialist Child and Parent Assessment Team (CPAT).
About CPAT
CPAT work within Children’s Services in Devon to provide specialist, high-quality and specific parenting assessments using the ParentAssess model for 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
As an Assessment Social Worker, you’ll work closely with CPAT foster carers, family practitioners, and children’s social workers 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.
This is a countywide service with flexible base locations across Devon – we 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 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 21 September 2025. 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.
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
REQ008479 - Children's Social Care