The posting
Contract to start ASAP
Duration: 12 weeks with a possible extension.
Contact Officer
Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Contract: 12 Week Temporary Contract, ending 24 January 2027
Support Children, Families and Social Care Teams Through Effective Contact Services
We're recruiting experienced Contact Officers to join Cardiff Council, supporting safe, appropriate, and well-managed contact between children, young people, and their families.
This is an excellent opportunity for candidates with experience in social care, family support, children's services, contact supervision, safeguarding, youth work, or community support who are confident working directly with children and families.
You'll work closely with Social Workers, children, parents, carers, foster carers, and other professionals to ensure contact arrangements are managed safely, sensitively, and in line with agreed care plans and safeguarding requirements.
About the Role
As a Contact Officer, you'll support and supervise contact sessions between children and family members, helping to ensure interactions are safe, positive, and appropriately recorded.
You'll observe family interactions, maintain accurate records, report concerns, and support children and families during what can sometimes be sensitive or challenging situations.
What you'll be doing:
- Supervising contact sessions between children, young people, parents, and family members
- Ensuring contact takes place safely and in accordance with agreed plans
- Supporting children and families before, during, and after contact sessions
- Observing interactions and recording relevant information accurately
- Preparing clear and factual contact reports
- Identifying safeguarding concerns and reporting them promptly to the appropriate Social Worker or manager
- Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with children and family members
- Helping create a safe, welcoming, and child-focused environment
- Supporting positive communication between children and their families
- Managing challenging behaviour or difficult situations calmly and professionally
- Working closely with Social Workers and Children's Services colleagues
- Liaising with foster carers, residential staff, parents, and other professionals
- Following agreed contact arrangements, risk assessments, and care plans
- Supporting transport or practical arrangements associated with contact where required
- Maintaining accurate records of attendance, incidents, and outcomes
- Ensuring confidentiality when handling sensitive family information
- Participating in team meetings and case discussions where appropriate
- Contributing information to reviews and assessments when requested
- Following safeguarding procedures and Council policies at all times
- Working flexibly to meet the needs of children and families
- Supporting service quality and positive outcomes for children
Requirements
We're looking for calm, reliable, and compassionate individuals with experience supporting children, young people, or families.
You'll ideally have:
- Experience working with children, young people, or families
- Experience within social care, family support, youth work, education, or a related setting
- Understanding of safeguarding and child protection
- Ability to observe and record information accurately and objectively
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to manage sensitive or challenging situations professionally
- Ability to maintain clear professional boundaries
- Strong written communication skills
- Good organisational and time-management skills
- Ability to follow risk assessments, care plans, and professional guidance
- Experience working with vulnerable children or families would be advantageous
- Ability to work independently and as part of a wider Children's Services team
- Local authority or statutory Children's Services experience would be advantageous
- Enhanced DBS clearance or willingness to undertake the required safeguarding checks
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Ability to provide three years of references/work history
- Ability to complete a Criminal Convictions Declaration
- Ability to sign a Confidentiality Agreement
Why Apply
- Umbrella rate of £18.92 per hour
- Opportunity to work with Cardiff Council
- Two positions available
- 12-week temporary assignment
- Full-time 37-hour working week
- Gain valuable experience within Children's Social Care
- Work directly with children, families, Social Workers, and carers
- Varied role combining safeguarding, observation, reporting, and family support
- Opportunity to make a positive contribution to children's wellbeing and family relationships
Benefits
- Weekly Pay
- Company Pension
- Ongoing Agency Support
Additional Information
Client: Cardiff Council
Job Title: Contact Officer G5 – Social Care Non-Qualified
Location: County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, CF10 4UW
Start Date: 2 November 2026
End Date: 24 January 2027
Hours: 37 hours per week
Pay Rate: Umbrella: £18.92 per hour
Employment Type: Temporary
Number of Positions: 2
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary contract
Contract length: 12 weeks
Pay: £18.92 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience working with children, young people, or families?
- Have you worked within social care, family support, youth work, education, or a similar setting?
- Do you have a good understanding of safeguarding and child protection?
- Are you confident observing family interactions and producing clear, factual written reports?
- Are you comfortable managing challenging or sensitive situations professionally?
- Please confirm your current location and whether you can reliably travel to County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, CF10 4UW as required.
Experience:
- Children / Family Support: 1 year (preferred)
- Social Care / Children's Services: 1 year (preferred)
- Safeguarding: 1 year (preferred)
- Contact Supervision: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
OR118535-10-26
