Why choose Wakefield?

We are looking for more ambitious and passionate people to join our team. We hope you choose Wakefield and realise your potential with us.

Our ambition

We are ambitious for our district’s children and young people. Our vision is for children and young people to tell us they are happy, healthy and safe. In thriving communities where families and services work together.

Our offer

At Wakefield we are committed to creating the right environment for people to do their best work and make a real difference. Our workforce is at the heart of that vision.

We recognise the value of our people. Our pay that reflects the skills, experience and impact of our workforce.

Supportive leadership and supervision

Our leadership teams are stable, visible and approachable, providing clear direction, support and challenge.

Manageable workloads and caseloads

We aim to keep our caseloads under 20. Or under 15 if you’re newly qualified or an advanced social worker practitioner. We have measures in place to make sure it stays that way.

A learning culture

Ofsted inspectors noted that we “excel as a learning organisation”. Our in-house Learning Academy provides a wide range of development opportunities, supporting continuous learning across all roles.

Partnership working

Ofsted inspectors noted our strong multi-agency partnership working. Our “joined-up thinking” and co-located teams allowed staff to have a “positive impact”.

Clear progression pathways

We care about nurturing talent and experience. It’s why we built clear pathways for progression based on your strengths and experience.

Great rewards and benefits

We offer 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), a generous pension scheme, family-friendly policies and a wide range of additional benefits, including discounts and wellbeing support.

Find out more about the benefits of working for Wakefield Council.

You can also view this information with our accessible document version.

Great commuter networks

You’ll find us in a prime commuter location in the heart of Yorkshire. With excellent access to the motorway network and public transport routes.

Our trophy cabinet

Good with Outstanding in social care

We continue to lead the way nationally in many areas, including our sector-leading children's home model, with 40% of our homes rated Outstanding, compared to 2% nationally. And our investment in early help and prevention is delivering lasting results for families.

Outstanding results for Wakefield children’s homes

Wakefield Council’s children’s homes have received glowing endorsements from Ofsted.

Three homes received overall ‘Outstanding’ ratings, while three others were rated ‘Good’. A seventh home received a ‘Good’ judgement overall with ‘Outstanding’ leadership and management.

Top rating for Local Area special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection

Inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Reviewing the district’s arrangements for education, health and social care services. Inspectors recognised that the partnership working ‘led to positive experiences and outcomes’. Our leaders were praised for being ambitious for our children and young people. Our children and young people in the district are typically achieving strong outcomes.

A highly commended innovation of children in care sufficiency in LGC Awards 2024

In a competitive year, our submission was:

'Excellent. Evidence of innovation and whole scale change. Addressing the national challenge of children in care sufficiency. Our integrated model children's home is a national exemplar of best practice. And is able to evidence excellent impact for children accessing the service."

National winners of the LGC Children’s Services Award 2022

Judges comments on our entry demonstrated:

“a strongly advanced, and locally driven improvement journey. Supported by the whole council, delivering measurable benefits for children.”

Key features that stood out:

• impact supported by robust data
• an engaged and enthusiastic workforce
• a ‘safe-space’ for social workers to practice
• a clear vision of next steps in achieving outstanding status

A highly commended workforce transformation in MJ Awards 2022

Following record entries, we were finalists in the workforce transformation category. We came away with ‘highly commended’ for our impact and scale of change.

Support and development - Wakefield Council

Our in-house Learning Academy offers a dynamic hybrid training model. Combining in-person sessions with online learning accessible through a dedicated website. You can access learning wherever you are and whenever you want.

We can cater to the diverse needs and varying experience levels of our workforce. Our team members can access practice guides and learning for all roles. We have over 350 resources available including:

• podcasts
• one-minute guides
• best practice examples

Colleagues can engage in learning at their own pace. Grab snippets of knowledge during the day or dive deeper with a day-long course.

With our close connections to Research in Practice, and the Leeds and Wakefield Social Work Partnership too, we have a learning culture we’re truly proud of.