Senior Social Worker (Assessment & Long-Term)

Role: Senior Social Worker (Assessment & Long-Term) Location: Wakefield Council (Based in Airedale; covering Airedale, Castleford, Knottingley, and Pontefract) Pay Rate: £35.00 per hour Working Structure: Hybrid Working Encouraged Are you a Senior Social Worker who loves the fast-paced energy of Duty & Assessment but hates feeling like you're constantly underwater with your long-term cases? Wakefield Council has designed a brilliant, highly structured rotation system for Team 2 that gives you the breathing room you actually need to do your best work. The 1-in-4 Rotation System: How It Works Instead of balancing relentless incoming referrals alongside complex long-term casework every single day, Team 2 splits the workflow predictably: 1 Week on Full Duty: Every fourth week, the team takes the floor. All incoming referrals and immediate assessments pass through the team. It's fast, collaborative, and high-energy. 3 Weeks of Protected Long-Term Work: Once your duty week concludes, the referral gate closes for your team. You get three full weeks entirely dedicated to progressing your long-term caseload without the distraction of unexpected duty drop-ins. About the Team & Culture You will be joining a tight-knit, stable, and incredibly supportive hub based out of Airedale: The Structure: A busy but balanced team consisting of 7 experienced Social Workers, 1 dedicated Assistant Practitioner (AP) to support with tasks, and a permanent, highly supportive Team Manager (no unstable agency management here). The Patch: You'll be covering a localized, manageable geographic area spanning Airedale, Castleford, Knottingley, and Pontefract. True Hybrid Work: Wakefield actively encourages hybrid working. You manage your diary-work from home when writing up assessments and utilize the office for team collaboration and duty weeks. What You'll Need to Apply A degree in Social Work and a current registration with Social Work England. Significant post-qualifying experience within statutory Children's Services (specifically Duty, Assessment, or Child Protection frameworks). The confidence and skills expected of a Senior Social Worker to handle complex cases and provide informal peer support when needed. A full UK driving license with access to a vehicle.