Locum Safeguarding Qualified Social Worker

Social Worker (Children’s) – Children Looked After (CLA) Team, Exeter & East Devon

Brief Job Overview

 
We are seeking passionate and experienced Children’s Social Workers to join the Children Looked After (CLA) Team in Exeter & East Devon with Devon County Council. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people in care, supporting them to achieve stability, belonging, and positive futures.  

At Devon County Council, we believe that home is where the heart is — and for most children, that means remaining with their families, supported by strong, local networks. When long-term care is needed, our dedicated CLA team works tirelessly to deliver permanence from day one. Through restorative practice and relational social work, we help children build lifelong connections with their families, carers, and communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Hold and manage a diverse caseload of children and young people looked after by the Local Authority, ensuring all statutory duties are met.
• Develop, implement, and review care plans that promote stability, safety, and wellbeing for each child.
• Undertake high-quality assessments that inform decisions and shape children’s futures, with a focus on long-term positive change.
• Work collaboratively with families, carers, and multi-agency partners to achieve the best outcomes for children.
• Champion permanence planning from the outset, ensuring each child has a clear pathway to stability and independence.
• Prepare detailed reports and statements for court and multi-agency reviews, ensuring they are analytical, evidence-based, and child-focused.
• Advocate for children and young people, ensuring their wishes and feelings are central to all decision-making.
• Model high professional standards and contribute to a culture of reflective, strengths-based practice within the team.
• Promote and uphold the principles of restorative practice in all interactions with children, families, and colleagues.

About You

 
You are a committed and motivated Social Worker who is passionate about achieving the very best outcomes for children in care. You bring resilience, creativity, and compassion to your role and thrive in a fast-paced, high-impact environment. You are confident managing complex cases, working collaboratively across agencies, and using evidence-based practice to influence positive change.  

You will be part of a supportive, knowledgeable management team that values professional growth, reflective supervision, and shared learning. This is an opportunity to build meaningful relationships and make a genuine difference to children’s lives across Devon.

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Successful completion of your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
• Experience working in multi-agency settings and contributing to court proceedings.
• Strong understanding of children’s social work legislation, policy, and theory, including the Children Act 1989.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and report-writing skills.
• Experience working with Looked After Children or within similar children’s social care teams.
• Commitment to child-centred, restorative, and relational practice.
• Ability to manage competing priorities within statutory timescales while maintaining high professional standards.

Contract & Salary

• Job Type: Locum
• Location: Exeter & East Devon (Devon County Council)
• Service Area: Children’s Services – Children Looked After (CLA) Team
• Contract Length: 3 months (with potential for extension)
• Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
• Working Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
• Working Pattern: Hybrid / Office-based as required

How to Apply

 
If you’re an experienced and passionate Social Worker committed to helping children in care achieve stability and lifelong connections, we’d love to hear from you.  
Please apply using the form on the page.