Children's Social Worker

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); West Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental authority in the UK is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join their team at HM Youth Offending Institute Werrington. The role involves supporting vulnerable children in custody and working closely with various agencies to ensure their welfare and safety. Candidates must hold a professional social work qualification and preferably have experience in Child Protection within a custodial environment. This is a full-time position with various responsibilities focused on safeguarding and advocating for young individuals.

Qualifications

• Post qualifying experience in Child Protection in the UK.
• Experience working in a Youth Offending Institute preferred, but not mandatory.
• Desire to advocate for vulnerable children.

Responsibilities

• Support looked after children and children in custody.
• Advise managers on child protection issues.
• Liaise with local authorities and other agencies.
• Document information related to child exploitation.
• Attend Children in Care Reviews.

Skills

Child Protection

Advocating for vulnerable children

Collaboration with multi-agency teams

Education

Professional social work qualification

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Worker to join our team at HM Youth Offending Institute (YOI) Werrington, set in the picturesque district of the Staffordshire Moorlands.

You will be an integral member of a multi‑agency team where you will have a role working with those children identified as being most vulnerable and where the greatest risk to their safety and wellbeing exists, including where they may be supported by or eligible for service from local authority Children’s Social Care Services.

The main focus being:

• to support looked after children and children in need in custody
• to support Governors in meeting their statutory duties under section 11 of the Children Act 2004
• to ensure Local Authorities meet their own responsibilities towards children in custody in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and subsequent legislation.

Main Responsibilities

You will :

• offer a full induction with the young person explaining fully the social work role and ensure they have all what they should have and need.
• arrange forums, induct new staff explain the social work role in YOI.
• be visible and see the boys to promote their well‑being and ensure their voice is heard.
• advise Senior Youth Custody Service (YCS) Managers on all Child Protection issues, both legal as well as practice issues.
• advise and support the safeguarding team on making child protection (s47) or child in need (s17) referrals to the relevant authority where appropriate.
• process referrals to Staffordshire’s referral team - Staffordshire Families Integrated Front Door Service SCAS
• screen use of force (UOF) restraints and attend Review of Restraint meetings.
• work with the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) and the establishment Child Protection Coordinator where there are allegations against members of staff (voluntary and paid employees/volunteers).
• assist in the development and updating of children’s safeguarding policies and procedures within the establishment.
• have oversight of asset information to determine whether they are CLA, LASPO, relevant, former relevant.
• document information on SBAR and WRM for child exploitation.
• support placement referrals to Secure Children’s Home (SCH), Secure Training Centre (STC) and other YOI’s
• liaise and have input with resettlement, health, mental health, psychologist teams.
• attend Children in Care Reviews
• support and escalated where placements aren’t available at release
• liaise with other Local Authorities, parents and external agencies.
• offer safeguarding training to Youth Justice Workers.

The Ideal Candidate

It goes without saying, you will need a professional social work qualification (with Social Work England registration).

You’ll also need:

• post qualifying experience in Child Protection in the UK and ideally to include experience working in a HM Youth Offending Institute environment, however for the right candidate it is not a necessity to have worked in a custodial environment as full training will be given

Above all, you’ll bring the desire to work with and advocate for some of our most vulnerable children. Keeping their welfare and safety at the forefront of all that you do.

For more information and an informal chat please contact Team Manager Angela Cooke on 01538 483129 or [e-mail] or Jonathan Parkes Head of Safeguarding Youth Custody Service HMYOI Werrington at [e-mail].

If you are invited for interview we would also like to offer you the opportunity on Wednesday 21st January 2026 for a familiarisation visit, offering opportunity to experience Werrington, meet the team and ask any questions prior to interview.

The interview date is Friday 23rd January 2026.

Our Recruitment Process

We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers, we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.