Children's Social Worker

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 38,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave (pro rata)

LGPS final pension scheme

Travel and wellbeing benefits

Flexible working

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is recruiting a Social Worker for the Post-Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Service in Ipswich. The role combines telephone and office/home-based work with flexible, hybrid arrangements.

You will respond to enquiries, assess needs, provide information and signposting, and work with multi-agency teams to support adoptive families. The role emphasizes safeguarding, professional boundaries, and data protection, with opportunities for professional development within a

Qualifications

• Provide responsive, professional support to post-adoption families.
• Assess needs and tailor information, signposting and referrals.
• Document interactions accurately in case records.
• Safeguarding and information sharing in line with policy.

Responsibilities

• Respond to enquiries via telephone and electronic channels.
• Offer calm, supportive guidance to parents and carers.
• Identify next steps and referrals for Post-Adoption Service.
• Escalate safeguarding or welfare concerns promptly.
• Collaborate with multi-agency partners to coordinate services.
• Maintain clear, timely, and accurate case records.

Skills

Strong communication

Empathy

Analytical skills

Multi-agency collaboration

Safeguarding

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

- Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX - Hybrid working

- Hours: 28 hours per week, flexible working options available

- Contract: Permanent

As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, we’re driven to make a positive difference to the environment, the communities we serve and the careers of our people. That’s why, when you join us as a Social Worker, you’ll be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services as well as your career.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

• Respond to enquiries and requests for the Post-Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Service, primarily by telephone and through electronic communication.
• Provide a calm, sensitive and professional response to parents and carers, including those who may be experiencing significant stress around concerns about their child’s emotional or behavioural needs. Providing families with relevant information, resources and advice and signpost to appropriate in-house, community and specialist services where required.
• Use your assessment and analytical skills to identify appropriate next steps, including referral into the Post-Adoption Service, advice, signposting or access to other services. This will include completing initial enquiries, referrals and assessments to support management decision-making.
• Recognise when families may be experiencing significant difficulties due to the impact of trauma, attachment and developmental needs and respond in a containing and supportive way. Ensuring you identify and appropriately escalat any safeguarding, risk or welfare concerns in line with Suffolk County Council policy and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with professionals and partner agencies, sharing information appropriately and supporting effective multi-agency working.
• Use Suffolk County Council’s electronic recording systems to maintain clear, timely and accurate records of contacts, assessments, decisions and actions.
• Manage competing enquiries and priorities effectively, using good organisational and time-management skills whilst maintaining appropriate standards of confidentiality, information governance and data protection.
• Work as part of a supportive, knowledgeable Post-Adoption Service, in the development of a consistent and accessible front-door service, helping families receive the right response as early as possible.

You will need

• Strong communication and listening skills, with the ability to engage sensitively and confidently with parents, carers and professionals.
• The ability to remain calm, thoughtful and solution-focused when speaking with people who may be anxious, frustrated or distressed.
• Good assessment and analytical skills, including the ability to identify relevant information and distinguish between immediate concerns and longer-term support needs.
• Good organisational skills and clear and accurate written communication skills.
• An understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries and information sharing.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency service.
• Experience or knowledge of adoption, Special Guardianship, trauma, attachment or complex family systems would be advantageous, but specialist training and support will be provided.

The team

You will be part of the front door to our Post-Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Service, providing a responsive, welcoming and informed first point of contact for adoptive families and Special Guardianship Order carers seeking advice, support or access to services. You will be joining our modern, updated service and staff members who are enthusiastic, committed and motivated about providing good quality, post order support.

The role is primarily telephone and office/home-based, rather than community-based direct work with children and families. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements are available in accordance with service requirements. There will be opportunities to work alongside colleagues across the Post-Adoption Service, contribute to service development and build specialist knowledge in adoption and Special Guardianship support.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Karen Harrison, (she/her), for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01284 758652 or emailing: [e-mail]

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).