Job Description
Social Work in Cornwall
Make a difference – Children’s Social Work in Cornwall
"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
The Service & Team
We are looking for skilled and experienced social workers to work in our Multi-Agency referral Unit (MARU). The MARU is our multi-agency front door for children's services. The team is co-located with police, housing, health and early help colleagues and values highly the partnerships that have been established providing a seamless and integrated offer to children and their families. We are seeking social workers who are enthusiastic about working at the front door of children's services and and are keen to be part of an integrated service that undertake varied and skilful work as the first point of call for vulnerable children and their families in Cornwall. You will join a vibrant, committed and supportive team making a difference to children and families at the front door. You will be well supported in your professional development and progression opportunities. This will be an exciting time to join our front door services as we move into our new Family Help model of working and your involvement in this will be welcomed.
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.
The Role
- Multi Agency Referral Unit (MARU) - based in Truro
Further information about our teams is available here. Please let us know in your application if you are seeking full/part time roles and which teams you are most interested in.
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.
‘Find out more about our social work careers here - Work in Adults or Children's Social Care - Cornwall Council .
What You’ll Need To Succeed
You will be a social worker registered with Social Work England who will have:
- Previous experience working within a social care environment
- A proven track record of excellent practice that improves the lives of children
- High-level written and verbal communication skills to build effective professional relationships with families and other professionals
- Knowledge and understanding of the legislation, models and theories relevant to children’s social work, and the ability to evidence how you have applied your learning to your practice
- The skills to undertake assessments and to use evidence-based practice tools to devise, implement and review care plans
If your experience as a social worker is within another sector (such as Adult Social Care or the Voluntary sector), we provide additional support to transition into children and families social work through a supported induction period.
Please note: If you have qualified as a Social Worker within the last 2 years, but not completed your Assessed and Supported Year of Employment (ASYE) we would welcome your application as a Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) in order to access Cornwall’s ASYE programme which runs twice yearly. You would need to apply for our NQSW adverts which are advertised separately. We are also able to consider experienced social workers who have taken a career break of between two and ten years, where their SWE registration has expired. For this route, please contact
[email protected]Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert
What You’ll Get In Return
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.
We actively encourage and enable our practitioners to progress and reward them for their commitment and expertise. If you are committed to continuing professional development, can demonstrate learning in your practice and in improved outcomes for the children you help and protect, we will provide you with the career options and remuneration that match your expertise. We support our social workers to stay in front line practice as advanced practitioners or move to front line management, both of which attract the same pay.
As part of our commitment to outstanding practice, we have put in place a comprehensive core curriculum and career and qualification pathway for our social workers to develop their knowledge and skills to deliver the most effective social work intervention with children and families.
Cornwall is one of the best places in the country to live, work and bring up a family. It’s location and landscape offer unique opportunities for a healthier, happier way of life. We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff and we recognise that resilient Social Workers need a good work/life balance as well as supportive leadership and support in the workplace.
In recognition of the vital contribution you make, we offer an attractive package of benefits including:
- 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
- A generous relocation package
- An individualised induction to meet your specific needs and learning
- 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
Additional Information
Cornwall Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.
The Full Role Profile Is Attached Here
Grade 3 Social Worker
Grade 4 Advanced Social Worker
Grade 4 Experienced Social Worker
We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview
For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Rebecca Sargent -
[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. 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, so 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.
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 that is inclusive of all backgrounds, cultures and identities; e.g., race, disability, sex, gender, 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.
