Experienced Social Worker

Knowsley Council; Knowsley; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee wellbeing support

Job summary

Knowsley Council is seeking an Experienced Social Worker for our Cared for Children’s service. You will undertake care planning and complex assessments, building strong relationships with children, families and carers to support safe, stable outcomes.

You will manage risk, collaborate with partner agencies, and contribute to service development while benefiting from flexible, hybrid working arrangements and a supportive leadership team.

Qualifications

• Be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Have experience of supporting cared for children and undertaking a safeguarding role.
• Be confident managing complex risk and decision-making.
• Be relationship-focused and child-centred in your practice.
• Have strong assessment, analysis and court skills.
• Hold a full valid driving licence and have access to a car for this role.

Responsibilities

• Undertake care planning and reviews for looked after children and young people helping to ensure they have stable placements that meet their needs and support their aspirations.
• Lead complex assessments and interventions.
• Support children and young people in understanding their life journey.
• Develop strong, purposeful relationships with children, their families and carers.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to manage risk and promote positive outcomes.
• Contribute to service development and practice improvement.

Skills

Relationship-focused

Child-centred

Assessment skills

Court skills

Risk management

Driving licence

Education

Qualified Social Worker (Social Work England registered)

Job description

Join the team helping to transform Children's Services in Knowsley

There has never been a more exciting time to join Knowsley Children's Services.

We know that our Experienced social workers want more than a job. You want manageable caseloads, supportive managers and the time to build meaningful relationships with children and families.

That's exactly what we are creating.

Knowsley is on an ambitious improvement journey, backed by significant investment and a determined leadership team committed to getting it right for children. Recent Ofsted monitoring recognised the progress we are making - highlighting improved workforce stability, strengthened leadership oversight, reduced caseloads and positive feedback from practitioners about working in Knowsley.

This is your opportunity to join a service that is investing in social work and where your expertise will genuinely shape the future.

Why experienced Cared for Children's Social Workers are choosing Knowsley

Be part of genuine improvement

Some authorities talk about change. In Knowsley, you can be part of delivering it.

As a practitioner, your voice matters. Your professional judgement, experience and ideas will directly influence services as we continue our improvement journey.

Lower caseloads, better practice

We have invested in creating permanent, additional social work posts specifically to reduce caseloads and improve children's experiences. This has included increasing capacity through the creation of an Accelerated Permanence Team who work closely with colleagues across Cared for Children's Services to secure permanence for children.

This means more time for purposeful direct work, relationship-based practice and better outcomes for children.

Supportive leadership that understands social work

Our senior leaders are visible, accessible and committed to creating the environment social workers need to thrive. We have a leadership team that is being expanded to ensure there is increased capacity to focus on improving outcomes for children and young people.

A Social Work Academy that invests in your career

At Knowsley, professional development isn't an afterthought.

Our Social Work Academy provides a strong learning culture, reflective practice opportunities, coaching and development pathways that support practitioners at every stage of their career.

Small enough to make a difference

Knowsley offers something many larger authorities cannot.

We are a smaller borough where you can see the impact of your work, know your communities and develop stronger professional networks.

Perfectly located

With excellent transport links across Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, Knowsley is easily accessible from across the North West.

You don't need to choose between a rewarding career and a manageable commute.

What you'll do

As an Experienced Social Worker within our Cared for Children's service you will:

• Undertake care planning and reviews for looked after children and young people helping to ensure they have stable placements that meet their needs and support their aspirations.
• Lead complex assessments and interventions.
• Support children and young people in understanding their life journey.
• Develop strong, purposeful relationships with children, their families and carers.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to manage risk and promote positive outcomes.
• Contribute to service development and practice improvement.

Who we're looking for

We're seeking confident, experienced practitioners who are passionate about safeguarding children and committed to achieving lasting change.

You will:

• Be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Have experience of supporting cared for children and undertaking a safeguarding role.
• Be confident managing complex risk and decision-making.
• Be relationship-focused and child-centred in your practice.
• Have strong assessment, analysis and court skills.
• Hold a full valid driving licence and have access to a car for this role.

Our commitment to you

When you join Knowsley, you'll receive:

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Reduced caseloads through continued investment in staffing
• Strong management oversight and support
• High-quality learning and development through our Social Work Academy
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee wellbeing support
• Clear career progression opportunities

See what our Social Workers say: watch here

Explore our full benefits https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/yes/our-offer

We welcome applications from residents and beyond, regardless of background, belief, or identity, recognising the value that diversity brings to our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and candidates with disabilities as we acknowledge their underrepresentation in our workforce.

Please note sponsorship is not available for this role

For an informal chat about our vacancies please contact the Social Work Academy - [e-mail] or Joanne Sheridan, Interim Service Manager Cared for Children - [e-mail]