Social Work Assistant

£24,000 - £24,500 starting Salary

Full time fixed term (13-14 months)

Are you looking to develop your career in social work? Would you like to work closely with Social Workers and Psychologists making a real difference to children and families? Do you want to work for an ‘Outstanding’ (Ofsted, 2023) Family Assessment Centre?

The Social Work Assistant (SWA) role is an integral part of the multi-disciplinary assessment team, working closely alongside Social Workers and Psychologists, the intervention and therapy team, and the frontline teams in the houses by providing support in the provision of family assessments.

The SWA participates as a member of the assessment team at Orchard House and ensures high standards of safeguarding, service delivery, effective communication, continuity of practice, and practical peer support.

Social Work Assistant duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Ensuring clear communication between all members of the team about the children and families that we work with

  • Planning a range of meetings and sessions with families

  • Completing various pieces of family assessment documentation

  • Co-leading progress meetings and assessment sessions with families

  • Making written observations and providing sensitive and timely feedback to parents

Further information regarding roles and responsibilities are contained within the application pack below.

This is a full time role working flexibly in response to service need. Core hours are Monday to Friday for three weeks in every four weeks. Social Work Assistants are required to work directly in the houses alongside the children and families for one weekend in four (with associated days off in the third/fourth week).

You will need relevant experience of working with children and families and must be committed and able to forge strong professional relationships with colleagues and other professionals.

How to apply

If you would like an informal discussion about the role please call Sophie Pinder (Managing Director) on 01823 351785 or email sophie.pinder@orchardhousefac.co.uk.

To apply, please see the application pack, safeguarding policy and complete an application form.

Please note we require a full application to be completed, even if you have sent us a CV and a covering letter.

Key Dates

  • Monday 10th February 2025 at 1200 - Closing date for applications

  • Wednesday 12th February - Candidates to be contacted by 1500

  • Tuesday 18th February - Interviews

Orchard House is committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and their families. These posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check.

We treat all personal data that you have provided us in strict confidence and will only process this information in accordance with our Job Applicant Privacy Notice. This explains what information we might hold in respect of you, the purpose for which we hold it, and your rights in relation to it.

If you have any queries with regards to this, please write to the Human Resources Departments, Orchard House Family Assessment Centre, 60 Staplegrove Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1DJ.