Higher Specialist Social Worker - Children with Single Point of Access (CSPoA)
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
Brighter Futures for Children
Children’s Single Point of Access/MASH
About us
Brighter Futures for Children is a not-for-profit company, owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council. Although we are independent, we are very much part of the Reading Family. Our people enjoy all of benefits as other Council employees including membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and continuous service.
We work closely with partners in the local community and key organisations including Reading Borough Council, policy, public health and voluntary groups. We are responsible for the delivery of children’s social care, early help & prevention, education services (including SEND). This also includes fostering and adoption, the Youth Offending Service and traded services with schools.
Our main aim is to protect and enhance the lives of the children of Reading. We help families find long-term solutions to ensure children lead happy, healthy and successful lives.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced social worker with a strong social work value base that will be committed to this role and the team and that will practice using the practice approach of Brighter Futures for Children including trauma informed, systemic and restorative practice.
This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our Children with Single Point of Access (CSPOA) team within Brighter Futures for Children. This role is situated within the front door for early help and safeguarding children, and you will represent the service for those seeking advice and support for children not already open to the service. You will work as part of a team to gather, review and evaluate information in regard to children’s needs, including children in need of support, intervention and protection. This is not a case holding role; instead you will explore, triage and make recommendations on the needs of children and young people, alongside the family and professional network ensuring they receive the help they need at the time they need it.
Qualifications & Education
- Social Work qualification.
- Social Work England registration.
- Advanced knowledge of the legal and social care policy framework.
- Appropriate Post Qualifying Moderated Training e.g. PQ Level 1 or 2 / Consolidation or Specialist / Practice Educator of Enabling Learning or equivalent.
For more information about the role, please read the job description and person specification.
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
- Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
- Incremental holidays starting with 26 days plus public holidays (rising to 33 after 10 years’ service)
- Discounted Child Care (on site nursery)
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Season train ticket loans
- Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
- A range of local shopping discounts
Inclusion and Diversity
We want Brighter Futures for Children to be a great place to work and to ensure that our children, young people and families are represented in leadership roles and positions of power. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our children, young people and families so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.
Asking for Adjustments
Brighter Futures for Children is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.
If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please let us know.
Closing date: Sunday 5th October 2025
Interview date: To Be confirmed
We look forward to hearing from you!
In January 2025 the decision was made to bring Children’s Services (currently operating as Brighter Futures for Children Ltd (BFfC)) back in-house to Reading Borough Council (RBC).
All staff employed by BFfC on 30 September 2025 will transfer, via the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE), to the Council on 1 October 2025.
For new starters who BFfC confirms before 27 September 2025 their pre-employment checks are completed and a start date agreed will be issued with a BFfC contact and will transfer to RBC.
For new starters whose pre-employment checks have not been completed and / or a start date has not been agreed before 27 September, you will be issued with an RBC contract and your start date will not be before 6 October 2025.