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Senior Social Worker / Specialist Social Worker – Families First Initial Support Team

Role Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Social Worker / Specialist Social Worker to join the Families First – Initial Support Team. This is a full-time locum role working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday (9:00am – 5:00pm), on an initial 3-month contract.

Working within a fast-paced frontline service, you will manage a caseload of approximately 20 children, undertaking timely assessments and safeguarding interventions to ensure children receive the right support at the earliest opportunity. You will also contribute to the development of colleagues through consultation, mentoring and training while promoting high standards of statutory social work practice.

Key Responsibilities

   
• Manage a caseload of approximately 20 children within the Families First – Initial Support Team.
     

• Undertake Child and Family Assessments, Strategy Meetings and Section 47 Child Protection investigations.
     

• Apply safeguarding thresholds appropriately in line with statutory guidance and local threshold criteria.
     

• Ensure timely responses to children and families, maintaining high-quality assessments, care planning and interventions.
     

• Complete statutory visits, direct work with children and maintain accurate case records, chronologies and supervision records.
     

• Capture and promote the voice of the child throughout assessment, planning and intervention.
     

• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to ensure effective safeguarding and information sharing.
     

• Provide ongoing consultation to supervisors, escalating risks and significant changes where management decisions are required.
     

• Contribute to practice development, mentoring and training activities, supporting continuous improvement across the team.
     

• Respond positively to audit findings and support colleagues in maintaining high standards of practice.

About You

You will be an experienced Children’s Social Worker with excellent knowledge of safeguarding, assessment and statutory intervention. You will be confident working within a fast-paced frontline environment, making sound threshold decisions and building effective relationships with children, families and partner agencies.

Requirements

   
• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
     

• Successful completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
     

• Recognised Social Work qualification.
     

• Strong knowledge of the Children Act 1989, safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
     

• Experience undertaking Child and Family Assessments, Strategy Meetings and Section 47 investigations.
     

• Excellent understanding of threshold decision-making and child protection processes.
     

• Strong assessment, report-writing and communication skills.
     

• Ability to support colleagues through consultation, mentoring and practice development.
     

• Knowledge of the Families First Partnership model is essential.

Contract & Salary

   
• Job Title: Senior Social Worker / Specialist Social Worker
     

• Service: Families First – Initial Support Team
     

• Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday (9:00am – 5:00pm)
     

• Contract: Initial 3-month assignment
     

• Caseload: Approximately 20 children
     

• Working Pattern: Hybrid – office attendance required 3 days per week.
     

• Salary: Negotiable

How to Apply

If you are an experienced Children’s Social Worker with a passion for delivering high-quality frontline safeguarding services, we’d love to hear from you. Join the Families First – Initial Support Team and play a key role in improving outcomes for children and families. Apply using the form on the page.