This is an exciting time to be joining Peterborough City Council’s assessment team. We are a supportive and proactive service who deliver the best services to the most vulnerable children and families in the city.

Allocated social workers in the Assessment Service will investigate concerns regarding a child or young person’s safety or wellbeing, make an assessment of the risk and protective factors in the family and decide on the most appropriate course of action. A key part of the role entails building effective relationships with children and families and working collaboratively with our partner agencies.

You will undertake visits to children and families and complete assessments and direct work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Duties will include: Having strategy discussions, safety planning, completing Section 17 Single Assessments, Section 47 Enquiries, Initial Child Protection Conferences, initial Child in Need meetings, private court work including Section 7 reports, presenting cases to Legal Panel, Public Law Outline letters and initial meetings, family network meetings, viability assessments, applications for court orders including Emergency Protection Orders and Interim Care Orders, and accommodating children with foster carers and connected persons.

The benefits of working for Peterborough Assessment Service-

– We operate a 3 week duty rota, and therefore as a team you are only on duty, receiving new work, once every 3 weeks

– Each team has an Advice and Information Officer, Children’s Social Care Practitioner and access to a dedicated business support team to assist Social Workers in their role.

- We have excellent office facilities and have adapted a hybrid model of agile, flexible working, including both home and office working.

- Retention bonus

- Manageable caseloads

- Minimal vacancies, and the majority of posts are filled with permanent workers

- Good training and development opportunities, including access to the Practice Educators Course

- Opportunities for career progression

The successful candidate will have:

- Professional social work qualification, CQSW or Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), or other relevant qualification recognised by Social Work England.

- Active Social Work England registration.

- Proven evidence of continuing professional development.

- Proven experience of building effective relationships with children, young people and families.

- Able to use evidence and professional judgement to make decisions and determine the risk of future harm.

- Experience of keeping and maintaining records (in accordance with local policy) and producing accurate reports, written updates to a range of stakeholders (which includes families, children or young people).

- Knowledge of relevant theory that informs practice.

- Knowledge of the legal powers and key duties required when safeguarding children and young people, including key legislation both locally and nationally.

- Experience of assessing the needs of children and their families in accordance with the Framework for the Assessment

- Excellent written skills and experience writing comprehensive reports for the Courts.

- Experienced in the use of ICT, including MS Word, Outlook, One Drive and case record management systems.

There has never been a better time to work for our council. An explosion of growth is taking place in Peterborough which will benefit everyone who lives, works and spends time here.

Peterborough’s new university opened its doors last year, with phases two and three in progress, and a new government hub at Fletton Quays opened its doors earlier this year.

Plans are afoot for many other city centre sites, including the railway station which the city council has received £48million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to redevelop, and a new city centre hub and footbridge across the embankment, as part of a number of projects being funded by the Government’s Towns Fund.

Peterborough’s time really is now.

This is a rolling campaign, and we will review applications daily so please don’t wait for the closing date to apply. Candidates will be progressed shortly after they apply, and the opportunity will be filled as soon as we identify a suitable candidate, which may be before the closing date. So please don’t hesitate, apply today.

We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Peterborough and want our workforce to reflect this diversity, which we believe is beneficial for our employees, the organisation and the communities we serve.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.