Advanced Social Worker

Job Description

3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

Job Purpose

The Advanced Children’s Social Worker plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality services to vulnerable children and families. In addition to holding a complex caseload, you will support colleagues with professional guidance, provide leadership in the absence of management, and contribute to the development of a learning culture within the team. You will uphold and model effective social work practice, and ensure that interventions are timely, proportionate, and child-centred

Key Responsibilities

Hold and manage a complex caseload involving children in need, child protection, looked after children, care leavers, and court proceedings.

Make clear and well-evidenced decisions regarding thresholds, risk, and intervention levels, ensuring children are safeguarded and supported to achieve positive outcomes.

Deliver child-centred practice where the voice, wishes, and feelings of the child are central to assessment, planning, intervention, and review.

Provide reliable and effective help and intervention to promote children’s welfare, development, and sense of permanence, including disabled children and care-experienced young people.

Work with parents and carers to reduce risk and improve parenting capacity, balancing support with challenge.

When required, take timely action to secure permanency for children who cannot remain at home.

Support children in placements (e.g. foster carers, special guardians, prospective adopters) to make progress in health, education, and emotional wellbeing, and prepare for transition to adulthood.

Provide guidance to less experienced staff on court processes.

Support and prepare documents for court, and attend proceedings when required.

Ensure all statutory and legal requirements are met, and case recording is accurate, clear, and up-to-date.

Support the Team Leader (TL) or Practice Manager (PM) in managing duty rotas, assisting with case direction, co-working, and conducting joint visits.

Chair or attend key meetings such as :  Initial Child Protection Conferences (ICPC),  Placement Panel Meetings, Professional Meetings, on behalf of social workers or in the absence of the TL / PM.

Mentor and support less experienced social workers and students, modelling high standards of practice.

Participate in audits, peer reviews, and reflective supervision to improve practice standards and outcomes.

Requirements

Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration.

Proven experience in children’s statutory social work including safeguarding, court work, and complex case management.

Strong knowledge of legislation and guidance including Children Act 1989, Working Together 2018, and associated statutory duties.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience producing court reports, assessments, and care plans.

Skilled in managing multi-agency working and leading professional meetings.

Demonstrable leadership capability and ability to support team development.