Job Overview: Qualified Social Worker (Child & Family Assessment)

Pertemps (Vitalis) is recruiting an experienced Qualified Social Worker for a contract role within the Child and Family Assessment Team at Leeds City Council. This position is designed for a practitioner who excels in complex casework and restorative practice, focusing on promoting family-led decisions to manage risk and meet support needs.

As a lead worker, you will handle a sophisticated caseload without the burden of line management, allowing you to focus entirely on high-quality relational work and child-centered practice within a busy, supportive team environment.

Key Responsibilities & Clinical Practice

Caseload Management

End-to-End Oversight: Manage a diverse and complex caseload including Child and Family Assessments, Child in Need (CiN), Child Protection (CP), and Child Care Proceedings through to permanence.
Lead Worker Status: Act as the primary point of contact and lead practitioner on complex cases, collaborating with other social workers to ensure integrated support.
Restorative Practice: Utilize restorative approaches to work with families, fostering an environment where family-led decisions are prioritized to address risks.

Direct Work & Assessment

Child-Centered Practice: Demonstrate excellent relational skills, engaging children directly through evidence-based practice to ensure their voices are central to all assessments.
Analytical Reporting: Produce high-quality written assessments that are analytical, timely, and meet the rigorous practice standards of Leeds City Council.
Risk Mitigation: Identify and manage support needs effectively, ensuring all statutory requirements are met with precision.

Requirements & Qualifications

Mandatory Criteria

Professional Status: Must be a Qualified Social Worker with valid registration (Social Work England).
Experience: Proven track record in a Child and Family Assessment setting, specifically handling complex care proceedings and child protection.
Analytical Skills: High-level ability to synthesize complex information into clear, high-quality written reports.

Core Competencies

Relational Expertise: Exceptional ability to build trust and rapport with children and families in challenging circumstances.
Organizational Mastery: Ability to manage competing demands and maintain performance standards in a fast-paced environment.
Team Collaboration: A commitment to a learning culture, sharing skills and knowledge within the team to improve overall service quality.

Compensation & Contract Details

Pay Rate: Up to £30.06 per hour.
Job Type: Contract role.
Location: Leeds, United Kingdom.
Team Culture: Join a busy but supportive team environment that emphasizes professional growth and restorative methods.

The Restorative Assessment Loop

In Leeds, the social work model relies on a restorative cycle that shifts the focus from “doing to” families to “working with” them.

By mastering the “Family-Led Decision” phase, you empower families to create sustainable safety plans, which significantly improves outcomes during “Child Care Proceedings” and permanence planning.

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity or other public sector specialisms (including IRO, MASH, or LAC roles), contact Olivia at Pertemps.

The Organization & Culture

In 2026, Pertemps Network Group remains the UK’s largest independent recruitment specialist. Its culture is famously described as a “Family-Run Giant,” maintaining the personal, supportive values of its 1961 founding while operating with the power of a nearly £2 billion revenue organization. The Leeds branch is part of a company that is 100% employee-owned (via an Employee Benefit Trust), which fosters a unique culture of “All-In” accountability and long-term commitment. Employees in Leeds benefit from an environment that prioritizes personal growth, having been recognized as a “World Class” place to work by Best Companies. The atmosphere is professional yet autonomy-driven, with a strong emphasis on mental health support and social responsibility through local charity partnerships.

The Leeds Presence: A Central Recruitment Engine

The Leeds operation is a vital hub for West Yorkshire, providing a comprehensive range of staffing solutions from its central city locations:

The City Centre Hubs: Pertemps maintains a significant presence at Princes Exchange (Princes Square) and No. 1 Aire Street, placing it at the heart of the Leeds financial and commercial district.
Specialized Divisions: The Leeds market is served by distinct branches including Pertemps Commercial, which focuses on office and professional roles, and The Education Network, a specialist division at Aire Street connecting local schools with qualified teaching talent.
Regional Industrial Backbone: Beyond the city centre, Pertemps Leeds manages high-volume industrial and driving contracts, supplying HGV drivers and warehouse operatives to the massive logistics corridors surrounding the M1 and M62.

Workplace & Strategic Highlights (2026)

Strategic 2026 Vision: “Harnessing Human Talent with AI”
- AI-Powered Matching: In 2026, Pertemps has integrated advanced AI tools to streamline the initial candidate screening process, allowing Leeds consultants to focus more on high-value human interactions and “culture-fit” assessments.
- Growth Through Acquisition: Following the 2024 acquisition of Parity, the 2026 strategy focuses on expanding the group’s IT and high-tech recruitment capabilities across Northern England.
- CBI Partnership: As a key partner of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry), Pertemps Leeds provides critical local labour market updates, helping West Yorkshire firms navigate the 2026 cooling of the UK job market and rising business costs.
2026 Compensation & Roles (Leeds Market):
- Industrial & Driving: HGV Class 1 and 2 drivers in Leeds typically earn between £16.40 and £21.15 per hour, with seasonal “Peak” rates reaching up to £28.80.
- Professional & Technical: Permanent roles such as Design Engineers or Quality Engineers in the surrounding area (Keighley/Keighley) command salaries between £35,000 and £40,000.
- Business Development: High-performance sales roles in Leeds City Centre offer basic salaries of £30,000 to £40,000 with OTE (On-Target Earnings) potential exceeding £60,000 in the first year

To apply for this job please visit www.pertemps.co.uk.