Working in social care

If you like working with people, social work and social care work can offer a worthwhile job. It could also turn into a rewarding career.

We have jobs and careers in all related social work and social care fields. We employ social workers, care workers and support staff in various capacities. Our staff work with either children, young people and their families or adults.

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Since COVID-19, we have now returned to our modern offices. Our social workers now help and support our communities from a central hub.

We have a commitment to maintaining low caseloads.
This makes sure that practitioners are given the chance to work effectively and robustly.
Calderdale is a place where you can make a difference.

Please watch our video: Make it Calderdale Council: Roy (YouTube).

Working with children

Children's Social Care is responsible for assessing and meeting the needs of:

Children in need (disabled children, young carers and children who have been adopted);
looked after children;
care leavers;
and children subject to a Child Protection Plan.

Social care for children and families work closely with Early Intervention teams and our partner agencies. They provide early help and support to families to enable them to meet the needs of their children. They also provide specialist help when it is required. This support allows children to be brought up and cared for within their own families wherever possible and close to their home in Calderdale.

These are some of the things we do:

Protect children. This is a key responsibility that relies on working in partnership with children, parents and other organisations.
Provide care for children who (for whatever reason) cannot be cared for by their own families. For example, finding them foster carers or a community home.
Assess the needs of disabled children and young people. (Arrange short breaks, day care and outreach support.)
Offer help and advice to families and carry out work with young people who have committed crime.

Below are some quotes from our recent Ofsted Focussed Inspection Visit in May 2023:

“All social workers who met with inspectors are very positive about working for Calderdale. They feel well supported by managers who are available and who provide consistent and helpful formal and informal supervision.”

“Workers spoken to report effective support by their managers and teams, which enables them to feel safe in their practice.”

“Most children who are subject to CIN or child protection planning whose cases were seen on this visit are receiving an effective service. This is ensuring that children’s identified needs are met, and children are better protected. Families are receiving services at the right level of intervention. When needs or risks increase, children and families receive the most appropriate service.”

“There is a clear workforce development offer and workers described having access to helpful training and development opportunities, which enables them to develop their skills further.”

Children's Social Work Matters

Children's social workers across the country are handling a record number of cases. More than 74,000 children in Yorkshire and the Humber alone receiving their vital help and support in the last year.

In a unique two year campaign, all 15 councils across Yorkshire and the Humber have united together. This is to make sure those standards of care will continue to improve for the most vulnerable local children. Under the banner "Children's Social Work Matters", the campaign aims to attract new social workers to the country's biggest region. It also aims to raise industry standards for people already in the job.

For more about careers in social care, please visit: Children's Social Care matters.

Working with adults

We want people in Calderdale to have the freedom of choice, independence, dignity and confidence.

We provide care and support services for adults in Calderdale and work closely with the NHS. Together, we have brought together the services that we deliver for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. This shows our commitment to work together locally. This helps to make sure that we meet the needs of Calderdale's people as fully as possible.

We make sure that people and their families get the personal care, support and advice that they need. We do this for those with:

Physical/learning disabilities and sensory impairments;
mental health problems;
and older people.

This helps them take as much control as they want over their lives. We want to help them enjoy the best possible health and quality of life. Also, to have the chance to live as independently as possible, thanks to a supportive network of relationships.

There are six principles that direct all of our work on behalf of the people of Calderdale:

We involve the public in planning and delivering services which meet their needs.
We work in partnership with other organisations.
We promote equality, choice, control, dignity and respect.
We use our resources well, to achieve the best for everyone.
We involve, listen to and learn from our staff.
We use the best information to keep improving people's lives.

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Working for Calderdale