Principal Social Worker (Children's)
UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics
Analytics are greyed out due to low classification confidence (50.0%).
Occupation Type
Social workers
Occupation Code Skill LevelHigher Skilled
Sponsorship Salary Threshold
Varies by national pay scale
Healthcare national pay scale applies
⚕️ Healthcare job - uses national pay scale
View healthcare pay scales →
View healthcare pay scales →
Above analytics are generated algorithmically based on job titles and may not always be the same as the company's job classification. You can also check detailed occupation eligibility, and salary criteria on our UK Visa Eligible Occupations & Salary Thresholds page.
Disclaimer: Hunt UK Visa Sponsors aggregates job listings from publicly available sources, such as search engines, to assist with your job hunting. We do not claim affiliation with Cornwall Council. For the most up-to-date job details, please visit the official website by clicking "Apply Now."
Description
Job Description
*Please note that although the closing date for this advert is 12th April 2026, applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis. This means that the advert will be withdrawn should the vacancies become filled before the closing date*
Progress Your Career. Stay in Practice. Lead Without Leaving What You Love.
A rare opportunity for genuine career progression without moving into management — our Principal Social Worker role offers a Team Manager salary while keeping you at the heart of direct practice.
The Service and Team
Cornwall isn’t just a fantastic place to live — it’s an inspiring place to grow your social work career. Fresh from our ‘Good with Outstanding features’ Ofsted judgement (July 2024), we’re a service on the rise: ambitious, bold and focused on delivering real impact for children and families.
Our transformed Family Help model brings together the best of Early Help and Child in Need practice, codesigned with practitioners to deliver more effective, truly child centred support. We’re investing where it counts: our specialist Parent Assess team delivers high quality inhouse assessments, and every Family Help Team is strengthened by an Integrated Family Domestic Abuse Support Advisor and dedicated clinical psychology input, ensuring a confident response to domestic abuse and complex needs. We champion meaningful family participation through Family Group Conferencing, Family Led Meetings and consistent use of genograms and ecomaps. Families also benefit from our award winning Family Information Service, a strengthened parenting offer and one of the best care leaver services in the country.
Ofsted Recognised The Strength Of Our Culture And Approach
*Please note that although the closing date for this advert is 12th April 2026, applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis. This means that the advert will be withdrawn should the vacancies become filled before the closing date*
Progress Your Career. Stay in Practice. Lead Without Leaving What You Love.
A rare opportunity for genuine career progression without moving into management — our Principal Social Worker role offers a Team Manager salary while keeping you at the heart of direct practice.
The Service and Team
Cornwall isn’t just a fantastic place to live — it’s an inspiring place to grow your social work career. Fresh from our ‘Good with Outstanding features’ Ofsted judgement (July 2024), we’re a service on the rise: ambitious, bold and focused on delivering real impact for children and families.
Our transformed Family Help model brings together the best of Early Help and Child in Need practice, codesigned with practitioners to deliver more effective, truly child centred support. We’re investing where it counts: our specialist Parent Assess team delivers high quality inhouse assessments, and every Family Help Team is strengthened by an Integrated Family Domestic Abuse Support Advisor and dedicated clinical psychology input, ensuring a confident response to domestic abuse and complex needs. We champion meaningful family participation through Family Group Conferencing, Family Led Meetings and consistent use of genograms and ecomaps. Families also benefit from our award winning Family Information Service, a strengthened parenting offer and one of the best care leaver services in the country.
Ofsted Recognised The Strength Of Our Culture And Approach
“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‑focused approach shine through.”
— Ofsted, July 2024
Cornwall offers forward thinking social work in a place where wellbeing comes first. With stunning coastlines, strong communities and a culture that values balance and professional pride, this is a service where practitioners thrive — and where your leadership will shape the future of children’s services.
The Role
Research (CCInform 2026) shows that many social workers feel their only progression route is through management with few senior opportunities for those who want to remain in direct practice. Our Principal Social Worker role changes that. This is a specialist practice leadership position, paid at Team Manager level, designed for experienced practitioners who want to influence practice quality while staying close to children, families and frontline work.
As a Principal Social Worker, you will hold a small caseload of direct work, deputise for your Team Manager, and play a key role in developing the skills, confidence and professional curiosity of your team. You’ll be supported by a comprehensive core learning offer and a clear qualification and career pathway, giving you the structure and space to continue developing your expertise. We value continuous learning and recognise its impact on outcomes — with progression and rewards that reflect your contribution.
Roles are available in teams across the county, including Family Help, Children in Care, Kinship, Family Plus, and the Disabled Children & Therapy Service.
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.
Learn more about social work careers with us: Work in Adults or Children’s Social Care – Cornwall Council.
What You’ll Need To Succeed
— Ofsted, July 2024
Cornwall offers forward thinking social work in a place where wellbeing comes first. With stunning coastlines, strong communities and a culture that values balance and professional pride, this is a service where practitioners thrive — and where your leadership will shape the future of children’s services.
The Role
Research (CCInform 2026) shows that many social workers feel their only progression route is through management with few senior opportunities for those who want to remain in direct practice. Our Principal Social Worker role changes that. This is a specialist practice leadership position, paid at Team Manager level, designed for experienced practitioners who want to influence practice quality while staying close to children, families and frontline work.
As a Principal Social Worker, you will hold a small caseload of direct work, deputise for your Team Manager, and play a key role in developing the skills, confidence and professional curiosity of your team. You’ll be supported by a comprehensive core learning offer and a clear qualification and career pathway, giving you the structure and space to continue developing your expertise. We value continuous learning and recognise its impact on outcomes — with progression and rewards that reflect your contribution.
Roles are available in teams across the county, including Family Help, Children in Care, Kinship, Family Plus, and the Disabled Children & Therapy Service.
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.
Learn more about social work careers with us: Work in Adults or Children’s Social Care – Cornwall Council.
What You’ll Need To Succeed
- A recognised social work qualification and Social Work England registration
- 60 Master’s level post qualifying credits (with support towards a further 60 academic credits)
- At least 5 years post qualification experience in children’s social work
- Strong practice expertise grounded in evidence informed approaches
- A passion for relationship based practice and developing others
- Excellent reflective skills, with the ability to lead and influence practice and develop others
Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert
We recognise the difference you make — and we support you every step of the way.
- Competitive salary equivalent to Team Manager level
- £4,000 welcome bonus and generous relocation package (eligibility applies)
- Lease car scheme
- Flexible working options, including hybrid and part time
- 26 days annual leave (rising with service) plus bank holidays
- High quality supervision and a culture of professional curiosity
37 hours per week, Monday–Friday, with flexible options available.
We encourage informal conversations before applying. To find out more or speak with a practitioner, please contact:
Tracey Davey – Principal Social Worker
tracey.davey@cornwall.gov.uk | 07973497274
Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.
The full role profile is attached here
We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview
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. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process .
Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careers@cornwall.gov.uk 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.
About Us
Cornwall Council deliver services to more than half a million local people and over five million visitors a year. Working here - Cornwall Council
We are happy to talk about flexible working options such as part-time or compressed hours. More examples of our flexible working opportunities can be found here - flexible working options .
Fairness and inclusion are at the heart of our vision for Cornwall. In order to best serve our communities, we are striving to achieve a diverse workforce tha
Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careers@cornwall.gov.uk 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.
About Us
Cornwall Council deliver services to more than half a million local people and over five million visitors a year. Working here - Cornwall Council
We are happy to talk about flexible working options such as part-time or compressed hours. More examples of our flexible working opportunities can be found here - flexible working options .
Fairness and inclusion are at the heart of our vision for Cornwall. In order to best serve our communities, we are striving to achieve a diverse workforce tha
t is inclusive of all backgrounds, cultures and identities; e.g., race, disability, sex, gender reassignment status, age, religion and sexual orientation. We are an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer, and we will assess applicants on their merits.
Cornwall Council is committed to safeguarding and following safer recruitment principles to help make sure our staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, young people and adults at risk. It’s a vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keeping all service users safe from harm.
Cornwall Council is committed to safeguarding and following safer recruitment principles to help make sure our staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, young people and adults at risk. It’s a vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keeping all service users safe from harm.