Parenting Assessor, Social Worker - Children's Services

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Children’s Social Worker to join our specialist Compass Team as a Parenting Assessor Social Worker on a full-time, permanent basis.

This is a specialist role where your assessments will directly support safe, timely decision-making for children and families in pre-proceedings and court proceedings. You will explore parenting capacity, risk, protective factors and the potential for change, keeping each child’s lived experience, safety and welfare at the centre of your work.

Using relationship-based, systemic and trauma-informed practice, you will work closely with parents, children and family networks through interviews, observations and structured assessment activity. You will produce clear, balanced and defensible reports for professional and legal settings, working collaboratively with social workers, managers, legal colleagues, Cafcass and partner agencies.

You will join a service that values reflective practice, professional curiosity and continuous learning. Alongside completing your own high-quality assessments, you will have the opportunity to provide consultation, coaching and co-working support to other practitioners, helping strengthen parenting assessment practice across Children’s Services. If you combine compassion with confident professional judgement and want your expertise to make a lasting difference, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

⭐ Generous Annual Leave - 28 days per annum (rising by 5 days with 5 years’ continuous local government service), plus Bank Holidays

⭐Local Government Pension Scheme

⭐GP Helpline - Available 7 days a week

⭐Employee Assistance Programme - Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline

⭐Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines

⭐Free Onsite Gym - Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham

⭐Salary Sacrifice Schemes - Including Car and Cycle to Work schemes

⭐Local & Lifestyle Discounts - Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more

⭐Move through Menopause Course

⭐Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more

⭐Learning & Development Opportunities

⭐Employee Networks

⭐And more!

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, undertake and complete high-quality, evidence-informed parenting assessments within agreed pre-proceedings and court timescales.
• Assess parenting capacity, risk, protective factors, motivation and capacity to change, keeping the child’s lived experience central throughout.
• Produce clear, balanced and defensible written reports for professional meetings, legal planning meetings, solicitors and the Family Court, and provide oral evidence when required.
• Work directly with parents, children and family networks, adapting assessment methods to communication, learning, cultural and accessibility needs.
• Collaborate with social workers, managers, legal colleagues, Cafcass, health, education and partner agencies to gather, test and analyse information.
• Provide consultation, coaching and co-working support to practitioners, while contributing to quality assurance, learning and consistent assessment standards.

Candidate Requirements:

• Recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
• Post-qualifying experience in statutory children’s social care, including work with children and families where there are complex safeguarding concerns.
• Strong analytical assessment and report-writing skills, with the ability to evaluate conflicting information and reach clear, evidence-based conclusions.
• Knowledge of child protection, the Children Act framework, public law processes and relevant practice guidance, with the ability to work within court timescales.
• A child-centred, reflective and fair practitioner who can balance compassion with authoritative practice, professional challenge and sound judgement.

Our Area:

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

Click the link below and Apply Today! To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact the Compass Team Manager: Pj Lewis on (Strictly no agencies).

Alternatively, contact Recruitment Specialist Alix Williams for a general discussion about the role and Wokingham Borough Council: