Location: Kendal/Penrith
Contract Type: Fixed Term – 10 months
Hours: 37 per week
Carer grade
We apply a career grade system to our Social Worker roles, meaning your starting salary will depend on your competencies, experience, and qualifications. We then support staff to progress through the career grade in line with their development against the requirements at each step of the grade.
To allow us to maintain the right balance of skills and experience across our team, we are ideally looking for a candidate with demonstrable experience of post qualifying practice in Social Work.
About this opportunity
We have an exciting opportunity, for a passionate, enthusiastic person to come and join our dedicated and driven team, during an interesting and ambitious programme of change within Adults Social Care, to help us develop and deliver our goals for the future.
This period of change has enabled Westmorland and Furness council to implement a pay and reward system which is reflective of the experience and responsive to your future development. Therefore if you are a social worker with appropriate post qualifying experience for any of the included post specifications we would welcome your application for the post specification which you feel best describes your experience.
We want you to become an integral part of the implementation phase of our mental health Service across Westmorland and Furness, supporting people aged 18 who are living in the community and have been identified as having longer term care and support needs.
As a social worker within the mental health team you will work within the team undertaking strengths-based assessments and delivering appropriate person-centred support and outcomes for people in Westmorland and Furness, who have care and support needs. Consistently working in a way that promotes independence and enables individuals/groups to maximise their strengths.
Who we are looking for…
We are looking for motivated people who share our passion and vision for Adult Social Care who have the ability to:
You will need an accredited Social Work Degree or equivalent Professional Social Work qualification, along with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of your own professional area of practice and the issues currently faced within Adult Social Care.
Excellent interpersonal skills including negotiating, conciliating, people management, written and verbal communication, and motivational skills, are all also essential to the role.
What can we offer you!
Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)
Would you like to find out more?
For further information about this role, such as responsibilities and essential criteria please view the below attachments:
If you have any queries about this role or would like an informal chat about this opportunity, then please contact:
Jo Smillie – 07825340167 joanne.smillie@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Application and Interview information
Closing date: 24/05/2026
Interview date: TBC
We are currently operating both in-person and virtual interviews. Interview details such as venue/timings will be shared with successful candidates, following the shortlisting process. If you have any concerns or adjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss this with you.
If you experience any technical difficulties applying for this role, please contact the HR Systems Team at HR.Systems@cumbria.gov.uk.
Safer Recruitment & DBS
At Westmorland and Furness Council we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and we expect all workers, employees and volunteers to share our commitment.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and requires an enhanced DBS check with a Adults Barred List check.
Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with adults. 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.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences.
As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview.
We also offer guaranteed interviews to Armed Forces personnel and veterans and those in care or care experienced and under 24 years old (someone who has been looked after by a local authority at any point, for any length of time, e.g. foster care, residential care, or under the guardianship of a local authority) that meet the essential criteria for the role.