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Job Summary:

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Qualified Children's Social Worker to join our Family Service Team. This role involves providing high-quality support to children and families, ensuring safeguarding and promoting positive outcomes for children in need. The successful candidate will work within statutory guidelines and best practice frameworks to support families and improve the well-being of children.

Key Responsibilities:Assessments & Interventions: Conduct thorough assessments of children and families, including Child in Need (CIN), Child Protection (CP), and Looked After Children (LAC) cases.Safeguarding & Risk Management: Identify and manage risks to children, ensuring timely intervention and effective multi-agency collaboration.Care Planning: Develop and implement child-centred care and support plans in line with UK legislation and local authority policies.Court Work: Prepare high-quality reports and provide evidence in family court proceedings when necessary.Multi-Agency Working: Work closely with schools, health professionals, police, and other stakeholders to ensure coordinated and effective support for families.Direct Work with Children & Families: Engage with children and families through home visits and structured interventions, ensuring the voice of the child is central to decision-making.Compliance & Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and timely case records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.Essential Requirements:Social Work Qualification: Degree in Social Work (BA, MA, or equivalent) and registration with Social Work England.Experience: Minimum of [Insert Number] years of post-qualification experience in children's services, particularly in child protection and family support.Knowledge of Legislation & Policies: Strong understanding of UK children's legislation, including the Children Act 1989/2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children, and relevant statutory guidance.Skills: Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage complex caseloads.IT Competency: Proficiency in using case management systems and digital tools for record-keeping.Driving Licence: A valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes (if required).Desirable:Additional training in systemic practice, Signs of Safety, or trauma-informed approaches.Experience in court work and public law proceedings.Knowledge of local authority processes and multi-agency working.

To operate as a social work professional within the Community Family Service team, providing a professional social work service to children and families as part of the Total Family Approach.

Social workers will undertake assessment, planning, intervention and review (APIR) in a range of children in need cases, including child protection, care proceedings and looked after children cases. They will work collaboratively with other professionals, co-ordinating or contributing to the team around the family, in order to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families, particularly safeguarding children and young people.

Social workers will hold approximately 15 total family cases. They act as a link professional, providing advice and consultancy to Children�s Centre, schools and other settings, in line with the Children Act 1989 and 2004.

Social workers will maintain accurate, up-to-date child records in compliance with the re-launched Integrated Children�s System.

Social workers will continuously improve their practice by developing their knowledge and skills through post qualifying training. The post will participate in high quality supervision that achieves an appropriate balance between reflective practice and accountability for performance/standards. They take part in rigorous self evaluation through annual appraisal and half year reviews.

This job description provides the core job description for all children�s social workers. Specialism�s will be reflected in appropriate addendums.

This post is required to work closely with multi agency partners to ensure that services fit together; avoid duplication and meet the requirements of the Children Act 1989 and 2004, and other relevant statutory legislation. They must be registered to practice with the HCPC under the terms of the code of conduct for social

Caritas Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

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