Tide House is a Residential Family Assessment Centre rated 'Good' by Ofsted (August 2025). We undertake parenting assessments for up to five families, providing 'expert evidence' to support families, local authorities, and care proceedings. Families have self‑contained accommodation of 1-3 bedrooms, allowing us to support families with multiple parents and children. Tide House utilises relational approaches to support families to care for their children in a safe and consistent way, alongside undertaking the required assessment of them, as directed by the Local Authority or Court.
The role of Specialist Social Worker is to undertake parenting assessments of 2-3 families placed at Tide House. You will join a multi‑disciplinary team that includes Social Workers, Therapists, Assessment Support Workers and Family Key Workers. You will also contribute to team learning and development, safeguard families and support the wider safeguarding culture throughout the organisation. You may work fully in the office or with 2-3 days of home working, depending on the current stage of assessment. You will be expected to be present for assessment sessions, delivering ‘Feedback’ and for most multi‑agency meetings.
Tide House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults. Safer recruitment practices are followed to ensure all candidates are suitable to work with vulnerable individuals. This includes robust vetting procedures, comprehensive pre‑employment checks, and an expectation that all staff uphold our safeguarding policies at all times. This role requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, verification of identity, scrutiny of employment history, and the gathering of suitable references.
Equal opportunities. Tide House is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee is discriminated against directly or indirectly as a result of any protected characteristic.
Qualifications
* At least 3 years post‑qualifying experience in children's social work
* Experience of undertaking parenting assessments, report writing and care proceedings
* A trauma‑informed approach to working with parents, whilst ensuring a child‑focus to the assessment
* Experience of engaging families to make positive and sustained change
* A commitment to professional development
What we offer at Tide House
* A warm, person‑centred organisation making a real difference
* A homely, nurturing environment where people feel valued
* A small organisation for strong relationships, big enough for real opportunities
* Clear values and meaningful purpose; everything is centred around safety, wellbeing and getting it right for families
* A shared vision that everyone is part of and contributes to
* Supportive, visible and experienced leadership; managers who listen, guide and actively support you
* A collaborative multi‑disciplinary approach with friendly and approachable leadership
* Regular 1:1 and group supervision
* Robust, supportive induction; structured induction programme, hands‑on learning, shadowing shifts and ongoing mentoring
* Support for your career progression; we invest in developing your skills and career, training and qualifications funded (by agreement) and pathways for progression into different roles
* Meaningful rewards: highly competitive salary, 33 days paid annual leave, paid sick leave, private healthcare, company pension, paid car parking, paid Social Work England registration fees, paid flu vaccine, paid eye care and an annual staff celebration and social event
* Excellent IT systems: bespoke, in‑house case management system, responsive in‑person IT support, easy‑to‑use systems that help you succeed and tools designed to make your work smoother and more efficient
* A great working environment: calm, positive and well‑maintained office setting, tea, coffee and biscuits as needed, and a team culture built on kindness, respect and collaboration
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