Parenting Assessor - Senior Social Worker –Retention

Senior Social Worker – Parenting Assessor

We are looking for an expert Senior Social Worker to take on the role of Parenting Assessor within our Family Safeguarding Team to make a real impact on children’s lives. This is a non‑case holding post and consolidated hours may be considered.

Bracknell Forest’s Children’s Social Care team have achieved an Outstanding grading across all areas in December 2025, reflecting our commitment to high quality service delivery.

You are a confident and skilled Senior Social Worker with extensive experience in complex child protection cases, care planning and legal proceedings. You are passionate about relational social work and committed to our culture of improving vulnerable children’s lives.

In this role you will complete high‑quality family assessments, produce robust reports and give evidence in court. You will demonstrate strong communication, analytical judgment and the ability to mentor colleagues.

Requirements:
Social Work England registered.

Our Family Safeguarding Team uses the Family Safeguarding Model, Motivational Interviewing, and a multidisciplinary approach. We provide specialist help to children experiencing neglect or domestic abuse. Our team fosters inclusive, collaborative practice and supports continuous professional development.

• Complete in‑depth, analytical parenting assessments (including pre‑birth), focusing on parental capacity and readiness to change within PLO and care proceedings, producing high‑quality reports with clear recommendations and within stipulated timescales.
• Complete additional assessments, such as risk assessments or ‘Together and Apart’ assessments, when required.
• Promote listening to children at every opportunity; ensure their views are heard, recorded and acted upon appropriately and timely.
• Coordinate multi‑agency contributions to assessment, planning and intervention, working within the Family Safeguarding Model to drive change and provide effective support.
• Attend Permanency Planning meetings and contribute to the care planning for children.
• Participate in regular reflective supervision, providing analytic findings and recommendations in monthly group case supervisions.
• Support and mentor less experienced colleagues, including newly qualified Social Workers, Family Workers and Social Work Students.

• 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years of continuous service, with the option to buy up to 10 days and sell up to 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work‑life balance.
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Reimbursement of one annual professional subscription/registration.
• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits (terms and conditions apply).
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

This role attracts a £49,918 – £53,048 per year inclusive of London Weighting and essential car user allowance, plus a 4% Annual Retention Payment payable after 1 year’s service.

Please apply online via the link provided and include a personal statement with your CV specifying why you are applying for this vacancy.

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact Cheryl Perry, Head of Service at cheryl.p or Helen Gore, Principal Social Worker at helen.

Bracknell Forest Council welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and will provide reasonable adjustments where needed.

All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS check as part of our pre‑employment checks process. Candidates must currently reside in the UK; sponsorship requests will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. No agencies please.