Cumberland Council

Social Worker - Level 3

The closing date is 15 March 2026

Job summary

Are you passionate about making a real difference for children and families? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, supportive environment where your skillscan help prevent family breakdown and keep children safe at home? If so, wed love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

Our Prevention Team works intensively with families at risk of children entering care. As a Social Worker in this team, you will:

  • Lead on the completion of initial and final assessments, care planning meetings and reviews.
  • Build strong, trusting relationships with children, young people, and their families.
  • Deliver creative, evidence-based interventions to reduce risk and strengthen family resilience.
  • Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to provide holistic support.
  • Support team members using group reflection and debriefing with a focus on emotional wellbeing and crisis management.
  • Use your professional judgment to make timely decisions that safeguard children while promoting family stability.

About us

What We Offer

  • A supportive team culture with regular supervision and reflective practice.
  • Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
  • Access to flexible working arrangements and wellbeing support.
  • A chance to make a lasting impact in the lives of children and families.

Details

Date posted

03 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£42,839 to £44,075 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

F0131-CMB2385e

Job locations

Cumbria County Council

117 Botchergate

Carlisle

CA1 1RD


Cumbria County Council

Jubilee Road

Workington

Cumbria

CA14 4HB


Job description

Job responsibilities

To improve outcomes for children and young people in Cumbria by listening to the voice of the child, young person and their families, understanding their needs and working together to agree how these needs will be met with the right help and support.

1. To improve outcomes for Children and Young People in Cumbria by listening to the voice of the child, young person and their families and carers, understanding their needs and working together to agree how these needs will be met with the right help and support

2. To work as a highly capable practitioner assessing and delivering care and support services to complex and high risk cases.

3. To use active listening, observation and communication to build relationships with families, children and young people and carers

4. To understand and analyse the complex/high risk needs of children and young people and the strengths and vulnerabilities of families and carers by gathering information, through direct work, and the use of knowledge and research evidence.

5. To have a well-developed understanding of the impact of need in order to formulate child based plans and assessments of carers with clear outcomes

6. To ensure practice is informed by a highly developed understanding of evidence and theory. Also, to understand the roles and accountabilities of other professionals in order to deliver multi faceted appropriate services to meet the identified needs.

7. To share skills and in depth knowledge to build capacity with other professionals across all agencies and identify gaps in provision.

8. To undertake complex assessments of children, families and carers and work with cases identified as having a high level of seriousness.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To improve outcomes for children and young people in Cumbria by listening to the voice of the child, young person and their families, understanding their needs and working together to agree how these needs will be met with the right help and support.

1. To improve outcomes for Children and Young People in Cumbria by listening to the voice of the child, young person and their families and carers, understanding their needs and working together to agree how these needs will be met with the right help and support

2. To work as a highly capable practitioner assessing and delivering care and support services to complex and high risk cases.

3. To use active listening, observation and communication to build relationships with families, children and young people and carers

4. To understand and analyse the complex/high risk needs of children and young people and the strengths and vulnerabilities of families and carers by gathering information, through direct work, and the use of knowledge and research evidence.

5. To have a well-developed understanding of the impact of need in order to formulate child based plans and assessments of carers with clear outcomes

6. To ensure practice is informed by a highly developed understanding of evidence and theory. Also, to understand the roles and accountabilities of other professionals in order to deliver multi faceted appropriate services to meet the identified needs.

7. To share skills and in depth knowledge to build capacity with other professionals across all agencies and identify gaps in provision.

8. To undertake complex assessments of children, families and carers and work with cases identified as having a high level of seriousness.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development at an advanced level or post qualifying training in childcare.
  • Three years relevant post qualification experience.
  • Experience in work with children and families including Children Looked After.
  • Work in partnership with community and voluntary groups, internal and external partners, Significant experience of Assessment, Case Management and planning in complex cases.
  • In depth knowledge of children's and carers Assessment and Case Management Processes, and outcome based permanence planning.
  • Well developed knowledge of relevant legislation and research-particularly in relation to adoption and permanence and the impact of loss and trauma on children.
  • Relevant demonstrable experience in statutory work with children and families, and if the post is within adoption teams, demonstrable experience of adoption work post qualification, in accordance with adoption regulations.
  • Ability to produce clear written analytical reports which include the child's voice.
  • Effective Work in a multi-agency context with internal and external colleagues on day to day service issues sharing and co-ordinating resources.
  • Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills with children and adults including negotiating, conciliating, people management and motivational skills.
  • Ability to provide advice and on the job coaching and training for colleagues that relate to own specialism.
  • Ability to mentor and promote learning and practice changes for other relevant staff.
  • Proven ability to demonstrate sound judgment and autonomy of decision making in highly unpredictable situations.
  • Ability to create and maintain tracking mechanisms and tools to evaluate the progress and success of the task.
  • Ability to organise personal work programme effectively, evidence of ability to self motivate and demonstrate substantial personal autonomy.
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage emotional stress effectively.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Social Work Degree/CQSW/CSS/DipSW and Social Work England registration
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development at an advanced level or post qualifying training in childcare.
  • Three years relevant post qualification experience.
  • Experience in work with children and families including Children Looked After.
  • Work in partnership with community and voluntary groups, internal and external partners, Significant experience of Assessment, Case Management and planning in complex cases.
  • In depth knowledge of children's and carers Assessment and Case Management Processes, and outcome based permanence planning.
  • Well developed knowledge of relevant legislation and research-particularly in relation to adoption and permanence and the impact of loss and trauma on children.
  • Relevant demonstrable experience in statutory work with children and families, and if the post is within adoption teams, demonstrable experience of adoption work post qualification, in accordance with adoption regulations.
  • Ability to produce clear written analytical reports which include the child's voice.
  • Effective Work in a multi-agency context with internal and external colleagues on day to day service issues sharing and co-ordinating resources.
  • Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills with children and adults including negotiating, conciliating, people management and motivational skills.
  • Ability to provide advice and on the job coaching and training for colleagues that relate to own specialism.
  • Ability to mentor and promote learning and practice changes for other relevant staff.
  • Proven ability to demonstrate sound judgment and autonomy of decision making in highly unpredictable situations.
  • Ability to create and maintain tracking mechanisms and tools to evaluate the progress and success of the task.
  • Ability to organise personal work programme effectively, evidence of ability to self motivate and demonstrate substantial personal autonomy.
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage emotional stress effectively.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Social Work Degree/CQSW/CSS/DipSW and Social Work England registration

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cumberland Council

Address

Cumbria County Council

117 Botchergate

Carlisle

CA1 1RD


Employer's website

https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Cumberland Council

Address

Cumbria County Council

117 Botchergate

Carlisle

CA1 1RD


Employer's website

https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Details

Date posted

03 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£42,839 to £44,075 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

F0131-CMB2385e

Job locations

Cumbria County Council

117 Botchergate

Carlisle

CA1 1RD


Cumbria County Council

Jubilee Road

Workington

Cumbria

CA14 4HB


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