Locum Safeguarding Qualified Social Worker

Social Worker – Child Protection (Blandford)

Brief Job Overview

 
We are looking for an experienced and committed Social Worker to join the Child Protection Team based in Blandford, Dorset. This is a key role within Dorset Council’s Children’s Services, supporting children and families who are subject to Child in Need, Child Protection, pre-proceedings, and court proceedings.  

As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner, you will work within a multi-agency framework to safeguard children, reduce risk, and help families make lasting positive changes. This role requires a confident and skilled social worker who can work with complex cases and demonstrate strong professional judgement.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality child protection social work in line with statutory responsibilities under the Children Act 1989 and related legislation.
• Undertake thorough assessments of children’s needs and circumstances in accordance with local authority policies and procedures.
• Develop, implement, and review effective Child in Need and Child Protection Plans to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing.
• Work directly with children, young people, and their families to build trust, identify risks, and promote positive change.
• Provide advice, guidance, and support to parents and carers to strengthen parenting capacity and promote self-reliance.
• Prepare and present clear, analytical reports for child protection conferences, court proceedings, and professional meetings.
• Attend and give evidence in court as required, ensuring professional and robust representation of the service.
• Chair and contribute to multi-agency meetings to support collaborative planning and information sharing.
• Work alongside Lead Family Help Practitioners, offering statutory child protection expertise and leadership on complex cases.
• Undertake specialist assessments following relevant training, contributing to the overall development of the service.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date case records and ensure compliance with Dorset Council’s recording standards.

About You

 
You are an experienced and confident social worker with strong expertise in child protection and safeguarding. You are resilient, reflective, and able to manage complex and high-risk cases with professionalism and empathy. You bring excellent assessment and analytical skills and are committed to working collaboratively with families and professionals to achieve the best outcomes for children in Dorset.

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Substantial post-qualified experience in statutory children’s social care, ideally within a Child Protection or Safeguarding team.
• Sound knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and associated child protection legislation and guidance.
• Experience working with Child in Need, Child Protection, and court cases.
• Excellent assessment, report-writing, and case management skills.
• Strong communication and multi-agency working abilities.
• Ability to chair meetings and contribute to service development.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and reflective practice.

Contract & Salary

• Job Type: Locum
• Location: Blandford, Dorset
• Service Area: Children’s Services – Child Protection
• Contract Length: 3 months
• Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
• Working Hours: Full-time
• Working Pattern: Hybrid / Office-based as required

How to Apply

 
If you are an experienced Child Protection Social Worker who is passionate about safeguarding children and supporting families to achieve positive change, we’d love to hear from you.  
Please apply using the form on the page.