About us
We believe every child in Cornwall deserves the best possible start in life.
When you join our team, you can make a real difference to children and families. You can also build a rewarding career in one of the UK's most beautiful locations.
We value social work that is based on strong relationships, respect, and compassion. If you share these values, Cornwall offers an exciting place to grow your career.
Our social workers help protect and support children, young people, and families. They work closely with other professionals and agencies to provide joined-up services and achieve the best outcomes.
In July 2024, Ofsted rated Cornwall Children's Services as Good with Outstanding Features. This places us among the top-performing children's social care services in the country.
Why Join Us?
A strong learning culture that supports professional growth
Ongoing investment in practice improvement
Supportive management and flexible ways of working
Opportunities to stay in frontline practice and be recognised for your expertise
A healthy work-life balance
A highly regarded career and qualification pathway
Competitive pay with opportunities to increase earnings as you progress
Flexible working options, including part-time and home-based working
Relocation support of up to £8,000 for eligible candidates moving to Cornwall
Our Social Work Teams
Multi Agency Support and Safeguarding Hub
The Multi-Agency Support and Safeguarding Hub (MASSH) brings together professionals from social care, health, education and police to respond to concerns about children and young people. They provide:
Safeguarding response for children at risk
Help and Support (Family Help)
Advice and guidance for professionals, families and the public
Family Assessment and Support Teams
The Family Assessment and Support Teams receive referrals from the MASSH. They are locality based and work with children and their families to assess support needs.
Gweres Teyluyow
Gweres Teyluyow offer a specialist service for families with primary aged children on the edge of care.
Gweres tus Yowynk
Gweres tus Yowynk offer a specialist adolescents’ service, including the Youth Justice Service. They support young people age 13+ on the edge of care. Our Multi Agency Rapid Response Service (MARRS) is an innovative extended hours service. This is a specialist service for young people in crisis and with significant mental health needs. It is a partnership between social care and health.
Disabled Children and Therapy Services
Disabled Children and Therapy Services supports children with severe and long-term disabilities or health conditions. The service includes:
assessments
care planning
occupational therapy
team around the child, and
specialist case management
Child Protection Teams
Child Protection Teams are locality based, and work with children and families through the court process.
Children in Care Teams
Children in Care Teams also work in localities supporting children in care.
16+ and Separated Children Seeking Asylum Service
This service supports care leavers and separated children seeking asylum. The team helps young people move safely into adulthood and independence.
The Fostering and Adoption Services
The team recruits, assesses, and supports foster carers and adopters. They help make sure children can access the homes and support they need.
The Kinship Team
The Kinship Team assesses private fostering arrangements and helps special guardians. The Family Plus Team supports children and families through residence, child arrangement, and special guardianship orders.
Find out more about Children's services
Stand up for social work
We know that our achievements are down to:
front line practitioners
and managers
working directly with children and families.
It’s their:
values
commitment
professional skills
and hard work
that make the difference.
Our success is also down to good partnership working.
You can’t deliver good children’s services without other agencies.
It’s also down to the way we work with children and young people, parents and carers.
In fact, they give us many of the ideas for our best work and most innovative and effective services.
‘Social workers told inspectors that they feel well supported by their managers and senior leaders and enjoy working in Cornwall. Social workers are capable, committed and are ambitious for their children’s futures and demonstrate a breadth and depth of skill and experience. These are qualities that are reflected in the positive outcomes that are being achieved for children in Cornwall’ (Ofsted 2022)
‘Social workers have a very good understanding of the children they work with; they visit them regularly and ensure that their needs are holistically well considered’
‘Staff development is delivered through an effective and well-targeted workforce development framework. Staff morale is high.’
'Children in care and care leavers benefit from access to an exceptional participation offer … they engage in a wide range of participation activities throughout their care are beyond. Their achievements are celebrated and they are involved in interview panels and have well established links with the corporate parenting board. This ensures the needs of children in care and care leavers are prioritised.' (Ofsted 2019)
We believe in relationship-based practice that builds on family strengths. Our approach includes:
Family Partnership Model
Functional Family Therapy
Video Interaction Guidance
Signs of Safety
Morrison's 4 x 4 x 4 supervision model
Together, these approaches help families make lasting change and improve outcomes for children.
Management Team
Kate Evan-Hughes is our Strategic Director for Together for Families. This brings together children's social care, education, and children's community health services.
Ben Davies is the Service Director for Children and Family Services. He leads Cornwall's children's social care services.
Message from our directors
Kate Evan-Hughes
Strategic Director | Together for Families"Together for Families has a strong child-centred, family focused culture that is based on finding strengths. It is among the best performing local authorities in the country with staff who go the extra mile. ”
Ben Davies
Service Director | Children and Families | Together for Families
"We have a service approach and culture which supports and empowers professional judgement, and where we invest in our people to develop their skills and capabilities to make a real difference to children and families. Our people are amazing - our biggest asset."
