Salary: £34,434 to £35,412 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week (Part time hours can also be considered)

Location: Carlisle or Workington

Contract: Fixed-Term

About this opportunity

Are you a Newly Qualified Social Worker or a Student Social Worker nearing the end of your studies? If so, we would love to hear from you!

Cumberland Children and Family Wellbeing are seeking Newly Qualified Social Workers to join our Children’s Academy for Social Care where you will be supported to thrive and have the time needed to develop excellent social work skills! If you are passionate about relationships, improving outcomes for children and making a real difference within your community then this role could be for you!

Positions are available in Carlisle and Workington for a start date in September 2026. This is a 12-month post to allow completion of your ASYE; upon successful completion of your ASYE year you will automatically be moved to a permanent post and become a grade 11 Social Worker.

We are rated good by OFSTED and our recent Skills for Care Quality Assurance visit feedback stated that our ASYE programme was working well across all domains; it is therefore a really exciting time to join us as we build upon our existing success and strive for excellence.

As a Newly Qualified Social Worker you will spend up to 6 months in our Academy team before transitioning to one of our locality teams. You will receive the following benefits and support from our academy:

• A 2-week induction of workshops, shadowing opportunities and reflective supervisions to introduce you to the world of social work in Cumberland. During this time, you will not be allocated any families so that you can focus on your learning and induction.
• You will be allocated a Team Manager that will be your ASYE Assessor throughout the duration of your ASYE year.
• Fortnightly group supervision for 6 months and monthly thereafter to aid critical reflection.
• Monthly workshops to aid learning and development.
• Protected time to complete ASYE portfolio tasks.
• 1:1 supervision in line with the ASYE programme requirements; weekly for 6 weeks, fortnightly until 6 months and monthly thereafter.
• A capped caseload that is built up over time in line with your skills, experience and interests.
• To ensure the right pace of learning we can guarantee there will be no holding of child protection or public law court work within your first 12 months.
• In addition to our strong ASYE offer we also have a career framework that sets out support and development opportunities through different stages of a Social Worker’s career; including a year 2 offer which supports Social Worker’s post ASYE as they navigate working with increased complexity.

Feedback / staff testimonials:

“Staff unanimously report that there is a real buzz about working in Cumberland. They feel energised, valued and listened to” – OFSTED 2024

“I can’t thank the academy team manager and the PSW enough for all of support they gave me whilst I was in the academy, but still now even after I have completed my ASYE” - Social Worker

“The academy did challenge me as a social worker however the level of support you receive is exceptional. There has never been a time where I have felt unsupported” – Newly Qualified Social Worker.

Why join us?

• A lifestyle you won’t find elsewhere – Living and working in Cumbria offers the best of both worlds. You’ll have a fulfilling and rewarding career while being surrounded by stunning landscapes, from the world-famous Lake District National Park to unspoilt coastlines and vibrant market towns. Whether you enjoy hiking, water sports, cycling, or simply relaxing in a picturesque setting, Cumbria provides an outstanding quality of life.
• Supportive environment – You’ll be part of a team that values collaboration, compassion, and innovation. We focus on potential over perfection, giving you opportunities to develop your skills and grow your career.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.

We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.

Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.

Contact

If you would like to discuss this role further please email our academy mailbox and one of the academy team will get back to you -  childrensacademy@cumbria.gov.uk

DBS Checks

This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is:

Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s/Adults Barred List check.

Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with adults and/or Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with adults and/or Children.

Guaranteed Interviews

We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.

• Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
• Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
• Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).

If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.

Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments

We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.

Application and Interview information

• Closing date: 11^th May 2026
• Interview date:  18^th & 19^th May 2026

If you experience any difficulties logging in to apply for this role, please contact the HR Systems team at HR.Systems@cumbria.gov.uk

Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.

Please read the supporting information:

• Post Specification

Please also refer to our Careers site to find out more:

• Our Staff Benefits
• Candidate Support
• About Cumberland Council