The Service and Team
Social Work in Cornwall
Make a difference – Children’s Social Work in Cornwall
“Senior leaders and politicians are relentless in their drive to continue to improve the lives of Cornwall’s children and families”
Staff’s care, commitment and child focussed approach shine through when they talk about their work. This positive working environment helps to foster a culture in which an enthusiasm and commitment to do the best for children is found at all levels in the organisation.”
Ofsted, July 2024
Social workers make a real difference to the lives of children in Cornwall. We believe that the children of Cornwall deserve the very best. We put their needs at the heart of everything we do and we are looking for people who share our determination to improve their lives and make a brighter future. If you believe in humane, relationship-based social work with children and families we offer the opportunity to develop your social work career in an innovative and ambitious children’s service in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
There are three GTY teams based in each of our areas in the West, Mid and East of the county, which are multi-disciplinary teams providing intense support, often when families are approaching crisis. The teams currently include Social Workers, Targeted Youth Workers, Youth Justice Service Officers and Functional Family Therapists. This is a team that is committed to improving standards and continuing the development of multi-agency working.
Cornwall offers a dynamic place to develop your career as a Social Worker. It is judged as an ‘good’ authority by Ofsted with a forward-thinking agenda. With excellent training and development opportunities for staff, the next stage of our improvement journey is about becoming a learning organisation, where every individual takes responsibility for the quality of their own work and expect to be held to account when there are persistent or serious shortfalls in the quality of practice.
The Role
We are looking for Social Workers for the Gweres Tus Yowynk (GTY - Helping Young People) Service). The postholder will play a key role in the delivery of this specialist multi-agency adolescent service that works positively to support young people to remain at home and/or with their wider family.
You will undertake all aspects of social work directly with young people, completing social work assessments whilst holding a caseload. You will be responsible for providing high quality interventions to enable young people at risk of care to remain in the community where appropriate.
You must hold a social work degree, social work qualification (Dip.SW, CCSW, CSS) or equivalent, have post qualifying experience and be Social Work England registered. You must also have experience of working with children and young people, excellent communication and assessment skills and be able to accurately record information on a database. You will have a strong sense of the child’s lived experience at the centre of your practice. You will be familiar with critical reflection, and you will also be familiar with the need for positive challenge and have a record of achieving good standards of practice.
This post holders will be located in the St Austell office. Own transport is essential.
This is an exciting opportunity, so if you are interested in joining this specialist area of Cornwall’s successful and ambitious Children and Family Services, we look forward to hearing from you.
This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies.
This position will be subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure check.
Working Pattern:
This role is a full time 37 hours per week, permanent position.
What you’ll need to succeed:
To succeed in this role, you will hold a recognised social work qualification (such as a degree, Dip.SW, CCSW or equivalent), be registered with Social Work England, and have post-qualifying experience working with children and young people.
You will bring excellent communication and assessment skills, alongside the ability to accurately record information on a database. A strong focus on the child’s lived experience will underpin your practice, supported by your ability to think critically, challenge positively, and consistently deliver high standards. You will also need to be adaptable, committed to relationship-based social work, and confident working within a multi-agency environment, with the drive to make a meaningful difference for young people and their families.
What you’ll get in return:
In recognition of the vital contribution you make, we offer an attractive package of benefits including:
- An individualised induction to meet your specific needs and learning
- A generous relocation package
- Welcome bonus of £4000 for qualified Social Workers who are new to social work in Cornwall and have completed their ASYE
- £3000 Annual Market Supplement for Advanced Practitioners
- An excellent core curriculum to support your ongoing development with a high-quality programme of evidence-based learning and development to enhance skills and practice.
- An outstanding career and qualification pathway, recognised by Ofsted as a foundation of Cornwall’s good practice, which will support your progression.
- Support from our dedicated Practice Educators throughout your progression pathway
- Regular, high-quality case and reflective supervision
- Supportive management and leadership
- Support to access temporary accommodation if moving from outside of Cornwall
- Access to a Cornwall Council lease car
- 26 days paid annual leave per year (rising with length of service), plus Bank Holidays
- Flexible working opportunities, including part-time hours and homeworking
- A license to access Community Care Inform and Research in Practice.
- Payment of your Social Work England registration fees.
- Sponsorship for eligible overseas social work applicants
A competitive starting salary and the opportunity to increase your pay further as you progress
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Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met.
Our core employee rewards and benefits include:
· a competitive salary.
· a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions
· a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave.
· A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme
· Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services.
Additional Information:
Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.
The full role profiles are attached here:
Role Profile - Newly Qualified Social Worker
Role Profile - Children's Social Worker
Role Profile - Advanced Social Worker
We recommend saving a copy of these to refer to if you are invited to an interview.
For an informal discussion contact Simon Moss, Team Manager (East): 07483 166902 E-Mail: [email protected] .
Application Process
Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.
Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact [email protected] if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.
Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.
