Principal Social Worker

Contract to start ASAP

Duration: 12 weeks with a possible extension.

Full job description

Principal Social Worker – Cardiff Council

Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Contract: 12-week temporary contract from 23 November 2026 to 14 February 2027

Provide Professional Leadership and Advanced Social Work Practice Across Cardiff

We're recruiting an experienced Principal Social Worker to join Cardiff Council, based at County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, CF10 4UW.

This is a senior social work role providing professional leadership, practice oversight and expert support across the service. You'll work with social workers, managers and partner agencies to promote high standards of practice, strengthen safeguarding and support effective outcomes for individuals and families.

The role requires significant frontline social work experience, strong professional judgement and the ability to provide guidance on complex cases while contributing to service improvement and workforce development.

About the Role

As a Principal Social Worker, you'll provide senior professional support and leadership across social work practice.

You'll help oversee complex casework, advise on safeguarding and risk, support practitioners with professional decision-making and contribute to the development of consistent, high-quality practice across the service.

What you'll be doing:

• Providing professional leadership and expert social work advice across the service
• Supporting social workers and managers with complex or high-risk cases
• Promoting high standards of safeguarding and professional practice
• Providing consultation and guidance on assessment, risk and intervention planning
• Supporting effective decision-making in complex cases
• Helping embed evidence-based and strengths-based social work practice
• Contributing to quality assurance, audits and practice reviews
• Supporting the development and implementation of practice standards
• Providing mentoring, coaching and professional support to social work staff
• Supporting workforce development and continuous professional development
• Identifying areas for practice improvement and helping implement change
• Working closely with senior managers and operational teams
• Contributing to multi-agency working with health, education, police and other partners
• Supporting responses to safeguarding concerns and serious incidents
• Reviewing complex assessments and professional reports
• Contributing to service planning, policy development and strategic priorities
• Promoting reflective practice and professional accountability
• Ensuring practice is compliant with relevant legislation, guidance and professional standards

Requirements

We're looking for a highly experienced and professionally registered Social Worker with strong leadership and advanced practice experience.

You'll ideally have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification
• Current professional registration with Social Care Wales
• Significant post-qualifying social work experience
• Experience managing or advising on complex safeguarding cases
• Strong knowledge of relevant social care legislation and statutory guidance
• Experience providing professional supervision, mentoring or practice leadership
• Excellent assessment, analytical and decision-making skills
• Strong understanding of risk management and safeguarding
• Experience supporting service improvement and quality assurance
• Ability to provide clear professional advice to practitioners and managers
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to challenge practice constructively and professionally
• Experience working within local authority social care would be highly desirable
• Strong multi-agency working skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure
• Commitment to continuous professional development and reflective practice
• Eligibility to work in the UK
• Ability to complete relevant safeguarding and pre-employment checks

Why Apply

• Senior social work opportunity with Cardiff Council
• Competitive Umbrella rate of £31.54 per hour
• Full-time 37-hour working week
• Opportunity to provide professional leadership across social work services
• Chance to influence practice quality and service improvement
• Meaningful role supporting safeguarding and better outcomes
• 12-week temporary assignment
• Opportunity to develop further senior local authority social work experience

Benefits

• Weekly Pay
• Company Pension
• Ongoing Agency Support

Additional Information

Client: Cardiff Council

Job Title: Principal Social Worker

Location: County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, Glamorgan, CF10 4UW

Positions Available: 1

Hours: 37 hours per week

Start Date: 23 November 2026

End Date: 14 February 2027

Contract Duration: 12 weeks

Contract Type: Temporary

Pay Rate: Umbrella: £31.54 per hour

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract

Pay: £31.54 per hour

Benefits:

• Company pension

Application question(s):

• Are you a qualified Social Worker with current Social Care Wales registration?
• Do you have significant post-qualifying social work experience?
• Do you have experience supporting or leading on complex safeguarding cases?
• Have you provided professional supervision, mentoring or practice leadership to other social workers?
• Do you have previous local authority social care experience?
• Are you able to reliably travel to County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, CF10 4UW?
• Are you available to start from 23 November 2026?

Experience:

• Qualified Social Work: 3 years (required)
• Safeguarding / Complex Casework: 3 years (required)
• Practice Leadership / Supervision: 2 years (preferred)
• Local Authority Social Care: 2 years (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Social Care Wales Registration (required)
• Recognised Social Work Qualification (required)

Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)

Must have HCPC Registratio

Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

OR120850-10-26