About The Role
Children’s Social Worker – Assessment & Support
Salary: HC8 £36,363 – £40,777 (plus £5,000 market rate supplement per year £41,363 – £45,777)
Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37
Locations: Ross-on-Wye, Leominster, Hereford
Relocation package up to £10,000 available
Closing date: 31/05/2026
Introduction
Our Assessment and Support service is made up of three teams, working out of three locality offices: South Locality (Ross-on-Wye), North Locality (Leominster) and Central Locality (Hereford). Each team comprises a Team Manager, Senior Practitioner, Social Workers, and Family Support Workers. Locality working gives you the opportunity to stay connected, meet new colleagues, and easily access support.
We are proud of our restorative approach to social work—one firmly embedded in our team culture and management style. Collaboration and reflection are at the heart of how we practice: senior managers are always available for guidance and support, especially when navigating complex cases.
Our recruitment video is available online to give insight into our service.
The Role
Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and families? We are looking for a skilled and committed Social Worker to join our Assessment Team.
In this vital role, you will be the first point of contact for children, young people, and families in need of support. You will complete timely and high-quality assessments to understand each family’s circumstances, identify strengths, and determine the most appropriate help or intervention. Your work will ensure that children are safe, supported, and able to thrive with their voices at the centre of everything you do.
Our focus is on working collaboratively with families from the very beginning, offering early help where possible and taking decisive action when necessary. We are committed to empowering families to make positive and lasting changes while ensuring that every child’s welfare remains our top priority.
You will work directly with children and families, alongside other staff within the Directorate and partner agencies. Ensuring referrals are responded to in a child‑focused and timely way, you will carry out assessments and investigate concerns so that a decision can be made regarding the most appropriate support for the child and family.
Herefordshire is on a journey, and we would like you to be part of our next chapter. This is an exciting opportunity to have a genuine impact on the local authority and help improve the lives of children and young people across our communities.
To arrange an informal discussion, or ask any questions about the role, please contact RecruitmentCYPD@herefordshire.gov.uk.
About You
- Passionate about making a difference for children and families through high-quality assessments and early intervention.
- Skilled in analysis, planning and decision-making, ensuring each child’s needs are clearly understood and effectively met.
- Committed to working collaboratively, inclusively and creatively with families and partner agencies.
- Resilient, reflective and confident in managing complex situations and making sound professional judgments.
- Able to thrive in a supportive, fast‑pace team environment, contributing to a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
- Registered with Social Work England and hold a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW).
We Offer
A competitive salary, holiday entitlement and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:
- Salary range: £36,363 – £40,777 per annum
- Market rate supplement: £5,000 per annum
- Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)
- Retention payment: £2,000 – £4,000 depending on team.
- Relocation package: up to £10,000
- Professional development: protected time and budget to develop yourself and your career.
- Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Career progression: clear pathways to progress.
- Annual leave: 31 days per annum (pro rata) plus bank holidays; additional 10 days can be purchased.
- Flexible working: potential for job-sharing, part-time hours and agile working.
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support and counselling.
- Payment of professional membership fees: based on role requirements.
- Access to retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits (savings, cashback and discounts).
Why Choose Us?
We are committed to keeping children safe and giving them the best start in life. Our team values collaboration, care and professional development. We invest in our people and our relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner, Leeds City Council. You’ll be supported by experienced managers, continuous professional development and a genuine team ethos that values collaboration and care.
Reasonable Adjustments
Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact enquiries@hoopleresourcing.co.uk.
If you’re shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments, Children & Young People Recruitment Team will be happy to support you.
Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations
The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:
- Those who indicate they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme.
- Those who indicate in their application they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to the Armed Forces Covenant.
- Those who indicate in their application they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.
We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all staff, visitors, and volunteers to share in this commitment.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre‑employment checks.
How to Apply
To apply for a position, please upload an up‑to‑date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. Be sure to include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile.
Contact: RecruitmentCYPD@herefordshire.gov.uk
Please note: the council is currently unable to offer overseas visa sponsorship for Social Worker roles in Children & Young People. Overseas prospective candidates that require sponsorship should not apply for these roles. For other opportunities with sponsorship, see https://spiritofherefordshire.com/children-young-people/jobs/.
Sponsorship Availability (UK Only)
We can provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for successful candidates who are already living in the UK and have at least two years’ UK-based experience in the relevant team or discipline.
Herefordshire Council Plan
Our plan outlines how we will contribute to a better and more successful Herefordshire. For more details, visit our website.
Website: https://spiritofherefordshire.com/
Creating an Inclusive Workplace
We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups and a commitment to listening to people’s views and needs.
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