Social Worker / Senior Social Worker – Assessment Service | Herefordshire Council

Location: Herefordshire
Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working Model: Hybrid

Key Highlights

Salary up to £50,000 per annum
£10,000 relocation package
£10,000 welcome bonus paid in 2 instalments
£4,000 retention bonus after 12 months’ service
Hybrid working and flexible working arrangements
Supportive management and clear progression routes
Opportunity to work in a relationship-based frontline assessment service

Join Herefordshire’s Assessment Service

Herefordshire Council is looking for passionate and experienced Social Workers and Senior Social Workers to join its highly regarded Assessment Service. This is an excellent opportunity to join a local authority that genuinely invests in its staff through excellent salary packages, financial incentives, manageable caseloads, and strong career progression pathways.

This frontline team plays a pivotal role in completing timely assessments, safeguarding children, and ensuring families receive the right support at the earliest opportunity. You’ll be joining a service committed to relationship-based and strengths-focused practice, where the child’s voice and family networks remain central to all decision-making.

The Role

You will manage a varied caseload of children and families requiring assessment and intervention, including Child in Need, Child Protection, and Section 47 enquiries. Working within statutory timescales, you will complete high-quality assessments, undertake direct work with children, and work collaboratively with partner agencies to ensure children are safeguarded and supported.

Senior Social Workers will also support with mentoring, complex case oversight, and contributing to best practice across the service.

Key Responsibilities

Undertake Child and Family Assessments, Section 17 and Section 47 enquiries
Manage Child in Need and Child Protection plans
Complete robust risk assessments and safety planning
Undertake direct work with children and families
Work closely with schools, health, police, and wider partner agencies
Prepare high-quality reports for conferences, court, and planning meetings
Progress cases appropriately to long-term services or step-down support
Senior Social Workers to provide mentoring and informal support to less experienced practitioners