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

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

• 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

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.

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.

• 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

• Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration
• Experience within Assessment, Safeguarding, or Front Door services
• Sound understanding of statutory legislation and safeguarding thresholds
• Strong assessment and report-writing skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced frontline environment
• For Senior level: experience supporting complex cases and guiding peers

This is one of the strongest permanent packages currently available in the market for frontline children’s social work.

You’ll benefit from:

• Up to £50,000 salary
• £10,000 relocation bonus
• £10,000 welcome payment split into 2 instalments
• £4,000 retention payment after your first year
• Flexible hybrid working
• Supportive team managers and senior leaders
• Career progression into senior and leadership pathways
• A stable service focused on quality practice and positive outcomes

For a confidential discussion or to apply, please contact:

Josh Dhumisani
Mobile: (phone number removed)
Email: (url removed)