Qualified Social Worker (Family Safeguarding Team)

Neway International Ltd; Chichester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's care service provider is seeking a Qualified Social Worker for the Family Safeguarding team in Chichester. You will assess risks for vulnerable children and work directly with families to improve outcomes. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years' experience in local authority social care, strong assessment skills, and be a registered Social Worker. This full-time role offers a competitive pay rate and flexibility for hybrid working.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years post-qualified experience in local authority children’s social care in England.
• Recent frontline child protection experience.
• Must be a car driver, willing to travel across the western area of the county.

Responsibilities

• Undertake high-quality assessments, care planning, and child protection investigations.
• Work directly with children to identify needs and ensure their voices are heard.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures.

Skills

Strong assessment skills

Direct work with children

Effective multi-agency working

Education

Qualified Social Worker with registration to practice in the UK

Job description

Neway International are seeking a Qualified Social Worker – Family Safeguarding (Chichester) to join our client West Sussex County Council.

Location: County Hall, West Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1RG

Hours: 37 per week (Full time)

Start Date: 15/12/2025

Duration: 12 weeks (Temporary peak in workload)

Pay Rates: £30.55 PAYE / £40.92 Umbrella

About the Client

West Sussex County Council’s Children, Young People and Learning service is dedicated to safeguarding children and supporting families to achieve positive outcomes. The Family Safeguarding team works at the frontline of child protection, ensuring children are protected and families are supported through high-quality assessments, care planning, and interventions.

The Role

As a Qualified Social Worker in Family Safeguarding, you will assess need and risk for vulnerable children and families, undertaking child protection investigations and care planning to prevent family breakdown wherever possible. You will work directly with children to identify their needs, liaise with multi-agency partners, and ensure safeguarding practices are delivered in line with statutory requirements and council policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake high-quality assessments, care planning, and child protection investigations.
• Work directly with children to identify needs and ensure their voices are heard.
• Deliver positive change and improved outcomes for children and families.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate effectively with multi-agency partners to support families.
• Contribute to service delivery during peak workload periods.

Candidate Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker with registration to practice in the UK.
• Minimum of 3 years post-qualified experience in local authority children’s social care in England.
• Recent frontline child protection experience.
• Strong assessment skills with the ability to identify risk.
• Proven experience in direct work with children.
• Effective multi-agency working experience.
• Must be a car driver, willing to travel across the western area of the county.
• Able to provide two detailed practice-based references (DfE template).
• Candidates must not have worked in a substantive role within the same region in the last three months.

This role is primarily office-based during duty weeks, with flexibility for hybrid working.