Social Worker (Contact, Advice and Assessment Service team) – 03306
Do you have a passion for social work? Are you an experienced and inspiring Social Work practitioner with Child Protection experience? Are you committed to providing excellent services to vulnerable children and families?
We are Ofsted rated Good and aspire to work towards an Outstanding rating with Ofsted stating that West Berkshire Council has ‘strong, stable and child‑focused leadership team that has continued to improve services for children and families in West Berkshire’.
We are looking for an experienced and dynamic children’s Social Work practitioner to join our Contact Advice and Assessment Service (CAAS) as a Social Worker. In this role you will champion the rights of our children and young people whilst ensuring children are safeguarded and completing Assessment of Needs. We want Social Workers that bring a comprehensive knowledge and skill‑base to their work with children, young people and families. You must be driven and ambitious, both for yourself and for children, young people and families. You must also be an enthusiastic team player who understands the vital role of supportive teams.
As a Social Worker you will help us ensure that the right children receive the right care and support and you will contribute to the wider work of the service in improving outcomes for children and young people. You will be responsible for managing a caseload of Child Protection and Child in Need Assessments, providing continuous oversight of the assessments for the children concerned.
Qualifications and Attributes
* You will hold a recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
* You will hold a current driving licence and have use of a car.
* You will need good organisational and planning skills.
* You will have experience of managing levels of risk within a caseload of complex cases.
* You will be able to demonstrate knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, guidance and policies.
* You will have excellent stakeholder management skills, being able to build effective relationships with colleagues, individuals and external organisations.
* You will have effective skills in managing conflict and disagreement.
Offer
* A golden hello payment of £3k after one year in post
* A retention payment of £2k after two years of service
* A further retention payment of £3k, plus a four‑week paid sabbatical after three years’ service
* Flexible Working: West Berkshire has adopted a Hybrid Working Policy, which allows employees to split their time between attending the workplace and working remotely
* Social Work England registration fees reimbursed
* Dedicated employee well‑being service with Employee Assistance Programme offering a great range of discounts at a variety of retailers, services and everyday spending.
* Regular and high‑quality reflective supervision.
* Approachable and visible senior leadership
* Local Government Pension Scheme
* Generous annual leave allowance, starting at 29 days plus an additional 5 days leave after 5 years continuous local authority service
* Relocation package for individuals moving from outside a 30‑mile radius (subject to eligibility)
* Blue Light card fees reimbursed
* We use the PeopleSafe App, a reliable tool offering real‑time monitoring, emergency assistance, and peace of mind when lone working
Please contact Liz Roles, Team Manager, 01635 503190 for an informal chat about this role.
Due to West Berkshire Council’s size and scale, and limited number of social work vacancies, we are not currently able to accept applications from overseas social workers.
Equal Opportunities
The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
How To Apply
Please now complete a short online application form. You will then be able to upload your CV.
This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.
West Berkshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share these values. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. Successful candidates will be offered employment subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Privacy notice: This privacy notice applies to job applicants applying for vacancies with West Berkshire Council https://info.westberks.gov.uk/pnapplications
Seniority Level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Other
Industries
Government Administration
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