Children's SW - LAC Team - Hounslow

Caritas Recruitment Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Caritas Recruitment Limited is seeking an experienced and committed Children’s Social Worker to join a Looked After Children (LAC) team. You will manage a caseload of looked after children, completing high-quality assessments and care planning in line with statutory requirements.

You will undertake statutory visits, prepare reviews and reports for court proceedings, and work with foster carers, families and professionals to safeguard children’s welfare.

Qualifications

• Recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England
• Post-qualification experience in children’s social care
• Experience with looked after children, care leavers or permanence planning
• Sound understanding of childcare legislation and safeguarding procedures

Responsibilities

• Manage caseload of looked after children and complete assessments and care plans
• Undertake statutory visits and prepare reviews for court proceedings
• Prepare clear reports for reviews and professional meetings
• Identify risk and promote children’s welfare
• Maintain accurate case records
• Travel within the local area for statutory visits

Skills

Communication skills

Organisation

Report writing

Time management

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

An experienced and committed Children’s Social Worker is required to join a Looked After Children (LAC) team. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people in care, supporting them to achieve positive outcomes, develop secure relationships and reach their full potential.

You will manage a caseload of looked after children, completing high-quality assessments and care planning in line with statutory requirements. Your responsibilities will include undertaking statutory visits, preparing and reviewing care plans, contributing to permanence planning, and ensuring that children’s voices, wishes and feelings remain central to all decision-making. You will work closely with foster carers, birth families, schools, health professionals, independent reviewing officers and other partner agencies.

The role will involve preparing clear reports for reviews, court proceedings and other professional meetings, as well as responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns. You will be expected to identify risk, promote children’s welfare and challenge practice where necessary. Building positive relationships with children, young people and their networks will be essential, alongside maintaining accurate, timely and compliant case records.

Applicants must hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. You should have relevant post-qualification experience in children’s social care, ideally including work with looked after children, care leavers or permanence planning. A sound understanding of childcare legislation, safeguarding procedures and the regulatory framework for children in care is required.

You will need excellent communication, organisation and report-writing skills, together with the ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure. We are seeking a reflective practitioner who is committed to relationship-based practice, professional development and achieving the best possible outcomes for children. The ability to travel within the local area and undertake statutory visits is also essential.