City of York Council
Social Worker (Family Help Lead Practitioner)
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City of York Council Invites Applications for Social Worker (Family Help Lead Practitioner)
City of York Council are excited to invite you to apply for the role of Social Worker (Family Help Lead Practitioner) to join our Family Help service. This is an opportunity for you to be part of a service that values high-quality relationships, reflective supervision and systemic practice, ensuring children and families receive the right support at the right time.
We are proud to be rated Outstanding by Ofsted, reflecting our strong leadership and commitment to children and families. As we continue to develop in line with the Families First reforms, we are investing in our workforce and creating opportunities for you to shape and influence practice.
About the Role
As a Family Help Lead Practitioner, you will take a lead role in supporting children and families with complex needs, helping them and their networks build strength and safety so children can remain at home wherever possible. You will work alongside multi-agency partners to deliver effective, evidence-informed interventions while modelling high-quality practice.
Key Responsibilities:
- Holding cases across public and private proceedings.
- Contributing to permanence planning that promotes a child’s identity, stability and sense of belonging.
- Working directly with children and families, undertaking Family Help Assessments, delivering intervention and co-producing plans alongside families, their networks and professionals.
- Building strong relationships and delivering meaningful direct work that promotes sustainable change.
- Working closely with the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team and partners across education, health and the voluntary sector, ensuring a joined-up, whole-family approach in line with the Families First reforms.
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About You
We are looking for you as an experienced and motivated social worker who is passionate about working with children and families and committed to strengths-based and relational practice. You will need:
- Experience working with children and families, including safeguarding.
- Strong skills in risk assessment, child development and multi-agency working.
- The ability to lead practice, support colleagues and promote high standards.
This role forms part of the implementation of the Families First reforms, which will come into effect on 1 October 2026. Should you be successful in securing an offer of employment, your start date will be on or after this date, subject to the completion of all required pre-employment checks, including DBS clearance.
This post is suitable as a job sharing position.
Our Commitment
City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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Working Arrangements
Hybrid working arrangements are available for this role. Each role at CYC is different and your working arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of the role and in collaboration with you and your needs as part of the recruitment process. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team.
Benefits
The Council is highly committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer:
- A generous annual leave allowance.
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives.
- A reward package which recognises your contribution.
- Flexible working practices.
- Community engagement and volunteer activities.
- Continuous Learning & Development.
- A growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.
Contact Information
For further information or an informal discussion please contact Cat Middleton at:
- Email: cat.middleton@york.gov.uk
- Phone: 01904551456
Closing date: 9 August 2026 at 12 midnight
Interview date: TBC
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