Children's Assessing Social Worker - Kinship Assessment

Job description

Job description

Great social work starts with great assessment, and in Devon, our Kinship Assessment Service brings that practice to life every day

Due to the expansion of our Kinship Assessment Service, we're excited to introduce newly created Assessing Social Worker roles within our growing, high-profile team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing, high-profile service at the centre of both national reform and Devon's ambition to deliver outstanding outcomes for children and young people.

Build your assessment expertise in Devon's Kinship Assessment Service

If you're passionate about providing a high-quality assessment service and are interested in gaining more experience in a service that genuinely values your development, this is the role for you.

Why join our Kinship Assessment Service?

Kinship care is a national and local priority, and our Kinship Assessment Teams play a vital role in enabling children to grow up safely within their family and friendship networks. This is meaningful, impactful work where your assessments directly shape children's futures.

You'll step into a role that is:

• Diverse and intellectually stimulating - no two assessments are the same
• Highly analytical - perfect for developing your professional judgement and decision-making
• Practice-focused - strengthening your report writing and assessment expertise
• Purpose-driven - supporting children to remain within their families wherever it is safe to do so

A genuinely supportive team

Our well-established Kinship Assessment Teams are proud to be part of a close-knit, supportive service where people truly look out for one another. Our practitioners:

• Work collaboratively to support peers and share knowledge openly
• Learn together and support each other's growth
• Are committed to reflective practice and continuous improvement
• Take pride in maintaining high professional standards

When you join our Kinship Assessment Service, you'll be part of a welcoming, supportive team of passionate and skilled practitioners, all working collaboratively towards a shared goal — achieving the very best outcomes for children and families across Devon.

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Grow your career with us

This is an exciting time to join. Our service has recently expanded, creating new opportunities to develop and progress within a forward-thinking team.

We offer:

• A clear development pathway into Advanced Social Worker roles and beyond
• Opportunities to specialise in kinship assessment practice
• Support to build your leadership capability and professional influence
• A culture that is both ambitious and nurturing

Assessment skills are fundamental to social work practice and this role provides an excellent platform to refine and elevate your expertise in a supportive, high-performing environment.

To find out more about joining in our Kinship Assessment Team, or for an informal chat, please contact Team Managers, Mike Wilkinson ( [email protected] ) and Zoe Shields ( [email protected] ) .

This campaign closes on the 1 November 2026
Please be advised that we will be interviewing throughout this campaign. Therefore we encourage early applications as this vacancy may close sooner if we receive a high volume of interest.

Location and base: Kinship Assessment works county-wide, so the base will be one of our three main sites (listed below), depending on the preference of the successful applicants. There is some ability to work from home with a minimum of 3 days in the office which can be discussed ay interview.

• County Hall - Exeter
• Taw View, Barnstaple
• Follaton House, Totnes

Working at Devon County Council

In return for the vital contribution you'll make, we offer a fantastic range of benefits, including:

• Generous annual leave, with the option to purchase more
• Free onsite parking
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
• Flexible working options , including hybrid working
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Discounts at 900+ retailers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme

Additional Information

• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages .
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council's use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice .
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page .

This role requires:

• Confidence and fluency in spoken English
• A suitable DBS disclosure
• A Full UK driving Licence and access to a vehicle **

* Exceptions may apply under the Equality Act

For more information, please visit our Working for Devon page .

REQ010674- Children's Social Care