Children's Social Workers - Level 2/3 - Children in Care Team

BCP Council; Hurn; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join BCP Council as a Children's Social Worker in the Children in Care Team, where you will make a real difference in children's lives. This position offers a competitive salary, excellent career progression opportunities, and a supportive work environment in a vibrant community, dedicated to care excellence.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Competitive salary with local government pension scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Employee Assistance Programme

Relocation Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience mentoring less experienced social workers, including NQSWs and students.
• Willingness to undertake Practice Education training.
• Committed to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with children, carers, and families to create care plans.
• Handle complex referrals and casework with high-quality risk analysis.
• Ensure the best possible care and support for looked after children.

Skills

Conflict Resolution

Presentation Skills

Risk Analysis

Education

Post-qualifying award (e.g., Practice Education)

Job description

Children's Social Workers - Level 2/3 - Children in Care Team

• Salary: Band I £37,938 - £40,476 p.a. plus £4,234 p.a. contractual supplement; Band J - £41,511 - £44,711 p.a. plus £5,719 contractual supplement p.a.

Job Introduction

This is what our current workforce says about working for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) in Dorset:

"As a social worker, there is career progression encouraged within BCP. It's a very rewarding job and something I absolutely love."

"It's a lovely place to come and live and work. If you're not from the local area, come to Dorset. Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole are vibrant, busy urban areas right on the sea front."

"I've never felt so supported."

About our team:

BCP Council Children’s Services have 4 Children in Care Teams, comprising 1 Team Manager, 1 Assistant Team Manager, 6 Social Workers, and 2 Family Support Practitioners. The teams are co-located at the Civic Centre Bournemouth but work flexibly across the BCP area.

Our goal:
To actively support all aspects of a child's life and development, especially the quality of care they receive where they live.

Our work:
The Children in Care team is dedicated to ensuring all looked after children receive the best possible care and support. Workers collaborate with the child, carer, family, and agencies to ensure up-to-date care plans that meet their needs.

BCP Council is the corporate parent to around 500 children and young people at any one time, including care-experienced young people aged 18-25 transitioning out of care.

Are you passionate about making a real difference in children’s lives?

Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council seek dedicated, compassionate, and experienced Social Workers for Levels 2 & 3. We are proud to have achieved a GOOD rating from Ofsted in Dec 2024, reflecting our commitment to excellent care and support.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. Your unique experiences will help us continue delivering outstanding care.

If you are an experienced Social Worker, reflective, proactive, resilient, and eager to make a difference, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council could be the right place for you.

This is an exciting time in BCP Children’s Services, and you have the opportunity to impact the lives of vulnerable children and young people positively. We are dedicated to recruiting, developing, and supporting outstanding social workers to help children grow and flourish. If you seek a challenge and want to see the difference you make, please contact us.

If interested in this role, you will need to:

• Have experience mentoring less experienced social workers, including NQSWs and students on placement.

• Possess a post-qualifying award (e.g., Practice Education) or be willing to undertake Practice Education training.

• Be working towards the DfE Knowledge and Skills statements for child and family practitioners.

• Be able to handle complex referrals and casework with high-quality risk analysis and decision-making skills.

• Have strong presentation and conflict resolution skills.

• Be committed to continuous professional development.

• Maintain a professional network to share expertise and support outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.

We require you to:

• Travel across the full Council area promptly.

• Have significant front-line safeguarding experience as a social worker.

We offer:

• Full induction with supportive Practice Fundamentals training.

• Clear career progression and excellent learning opportunities.

• Manageable and diverse caseloads.

• Regular supervision.

• 25 days annual leave (pro-rata for those without continuous service) plus bank holidays.

• Competitive salary with access to the local government pension scheme.

• Flexible working arrangements at our refurbished Civic Offices and local offices.

• Employee Assistance Programme.

• Relocation Scheme.

• Staff network groups.

For an informal discussion, contact:

Shan Searle, Service Manager for Children in Care at [e-mail]

Visit our academy website for more details: BCP Partnership Academy

About BCP Council:

BCP Council serves a diverse community of 400,000 residents, employing over 5,000 staff. Our area features over 15 miles of renowned coastline. We offer career-defining roles to transform and improve services. Join us to help create a thriving, inclusive, and prosperous community for future generations.

Our Benefits:

We provide an excellent benefits package. For details, see here.

Following the creation of BCP Council in 2019, we are streamlining terms and conditions and establishing a single pay structure applicable to all employees. We aim to ensure continuous service and no job reductions during this process. For questions, please contact the hiring manager.

DBS:

BCP Council is committed to safeguarding and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will need to complete an appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service check. Refer to the Job Description or Role Profile for details.

• Social Worker JD and PS BCP.pdf