Locum Child Protection Qualified Social Worker

Experienced Social Worker – Children’s Services (Bedford Borough Council)

Job Overview

We are recruiting an **Experienced Social Worker (Qualified Social Worker)** to join **Bedford Borough Council’s Children’s Services team**. In this role, you will work directly with children, young people, and families to safeguard wellbeing, manage risk, and promote positive outcomes.

You will hold a complex caseload, carry out statutory assessments, and work in partnership with other professionals to deliver safe, effective, and child-centred interventions. This is a rewarding position for a skilled practitioner seeking to contribute to high-quality children’s social care.

Key Responsibilities

– Undertake in-depth child protection and safeguarding assessments. – Develop and review child-focused care and support plans in line with statutory frameworks. – Manage complex caseloads, ensuring timely interventions and effective risk management. – Prepare and present high-quality, evidence-based reports for court, case conferences, and statutory reviews. – Work collaboratively with health, education, police, and voluntary agencies to deliver coordinated support. – Ensure the child’s voice is at the heart of all decision-making and practice. – Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records in line with policy and legislation. – Contribute to reflective practice, peer discussions, and continuous service improvement.

About You

You are a resilient and dedicated social worker with significant post-qualification experience in children’s services. You are confident in managing complex safeguarding cases, skilled in assessment and intervention, and committed to supporting families to achieve sustainable change.

Requirements

– Qualified Social Worker (QSW) with registration to **Social Work England**. – Substantial post-qualification experience within **Children’s Services**, including safeguarding and child protection. – Strong knowledge of child development, family dynamics, and relevant legislation (Children Act 1989/2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children). – Excellent assessment, communication, and report-writing skills. – Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining a child-focused approach.

Contract & Salary

– Employer: **Bedford Borough Council** – Service: **Children’s Services** – Contract type: **Full-time, locum/temporary contract via Tripod Partners** – Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

How to Apply

If you are an experienced Qualified Social Worker looking to join Bedford Borough Council’s Children’s Services team, we would like to hear from you. Please **apply using the form on the page**.