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 Pj.Lewis@wokingham.gov.uk (Strictly no agencies).

Alternatively, contact Recruitment Specialist Alix Williams for a general discussion about the role and Wokingham Borough Council:  Alix.williams@wokingham.gov.uk

Closing date: Sunday 1^st November 2026, at 11pm

Interview date: 11th November, in person, in our Wokingham offices

AI in Applications:

We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.

However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.

We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.

If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.