School Social Worker & Deputy DSL

SAMpeople; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Raise Education & Wellbeing School in Bolton seeks a qualified Social Worker to join as School Social Worker and Deputy DSL, delivering early intervention and safeguarding across school sites and in the community.

You will manage a complex caseload, coordinate Early Help, contribute to risk assessments and multi‑agency safeguarding, and support families to enable every child to thrive both in and out of education.

Qualifications

• Recognised social work qualification and current Social Work England registration.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Safeguarding training completed or the ability to complete Deputy DSL training before unsupervised duties.
• Commitment to maintaining professional registration and training requirements.
• Experience in safeguarding and child-and-family social work.
• Experience with looked-after children and care-planning arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Provide skilled, child-centred social-work support to students and families.
• Coordinate Early Help work and assess safeguarding risk.
• Represent the school in multi-agency meetings.
• Undertake direct work with children and young people with complex needs.
• Assist with Deputy DSL duties and make referrals as required.
• Support attendance and behaviour planning with safeguarding input.

Skills

Relationship building

Active listening

Analytical thinking

Prioritisation

Clear communication

Professional judgment

Crisis management

Record-keeping

Team collaboration

Trauma-informed practice

Education

Social work degree

Registered with Social Work England

Safeguarding training

NVQ Level 2/3 in relevant discipline

GCSE Maths & English

Tools

Case-management systems

Digital safeguarding tools

Job description

Are you a qualified Social Worker who is passionate about helping children, young people and families overcome barriers and achieve their potential?

We are seeking an enthusiastic and compassionate School Social Worker and Deputy DSL to join our dedicated team. This is a unique opportunity to work directly with students and families, providing early intervention, safeguarding support and practical solutions that create lasting positive change.

Working across our school sites and within the community, you will play a vital role in protecting vulnerable children, strengthening family relationships and ensuring every young person has the support they need to thrive both in and out of education.

If you are looking for a rewarding role where no two days are the same and where your expertise can genuinely change lives, we would love to hear from you.

The School Social Worker and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead will provide skilled, child-centred social-work support to students and families. The postholder will hold an agreed caseload, coordinate Early Help work, contribute to the assessment and management of safeguarding risk, and provide effective operational support to the school's safeguarding arrangements.

The postholder will work closely with students who have complex social, emotional and mental health needs, including looked-after children and students involved with statutory or Early Help services. They will undertake direct work, coordinate support and represent the school in relevant multi-agency meetings.

As a Deputy DSL, the postholder will respond to day-to-day safeguarding concerns, make referrals and take appropriate action in accordance with statutory guidance, school policy and local safeguarding procedures.

The Strategic Safeguarding and Wellbeing Lead retains strategic oversight of safeguarding, including quality assurance, policy development, complex-case oversight and supervision. The role will contribute specialist social-work advice to attendance and behaviour planning but will not hold strategic responsibility for attendance, behaviour or school culture

Essential qualifications and professional status

The successful candidate must have:

• · a recognised qualification in social work;
• · current registration with Social Work England;
• · evidence of continuing professional development;
• · completed suitable safeguarding training, or the ability to complete Deputy DSL training before undertaking unsupervised Deputy DSL duties; and
• · a commitment to maintaining all professional registration and training requirements.

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• · substantial post-qualifying experience of safeguarding and child-and-family social work;
• · experience of assessing children's needs, strengths and risks;
• · experience of holding and prioritising a complex caseload;
• · experience of child-protection, child-in-need or comparable multi-agency work;
• · experience of working with looked-after children and understanding care-planning arrangements;
• · experience of Early Help, family support or preventative intervention;
• · experience of attending and contributing to statutory and multi-agency meetings;
• · experience of producing clear assessments, reports, plans, chronologies and case records;
• · direct work with children and young people who have experienced trauma, adversity or disrupted relationships; and
• · effective partnership work with parents, carers and professionals.

Essential knowledge

The successful candidate must understand:

• · statutory safeguarding responsibilities and the principles of current education safeguarding guidance;
• · thresholds for Early Help and statutory intervention;
• · the impact of abuse, neglect, exploitation, trauma and family adversity on children's development and education;
• · the needs and experiences of looked-after and previously looked-after children;
• · professional curiosity, information sharing, consent, confidentiality and data protection;
• · child-centred assessment, safety planning and risk management;
• · equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice;
• · professional boundaries and the limits of the school's role; and
• · the importance of defensible decision-making and accurate recording.

Essential skills and attributes

The successful candidate must be able to:

• · build safe and effective relationships with children who may be distressed, mistrustful or reluctant to engage;
• · listen to children and ensure their wishes and feelings inform decisions;
• · analyse complex information and make proportionate, evidence-based judgements;
• · recognise urgency, prioritise competing demands and escalates concerns promptly;
• · communicate difficult or sensitive information clearly and compassionately;
• · challenge other professionals appropriately and constructively;
• · chair or coordinate meetings and maintain focus on actions and outcomes;
• · work collaboratively while retaining professional independence and judgement;
• · remain calm and effective during crises and emotionally demanding situations;
• · maintain accurate, analytical and timely records;
• · use electronic safeguarding and case-management systems effectively;
• · reflect on practice and use supervision constructively; and
• · contribute positively to a trauma-informed and restorative school culture.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a suitable candidate be identified. Interviews will be arranged at a mutually convenient time and details will be confirmed with shortlisted applicants.

Pension

Employee Assistant programme

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification in relevant discipline such as Health and Social Care, Childcare and Education, etc essential
• NVQ level 2/3 or equivalent in relevant discipline essential
• GCSE Maths and English grade 4-9 (A-C) or equivalent essential
• Relevant safeguarding qualification and/or training essential

Skills

Leadership

Inspirational leader particularly during challenging times essential

Adaptable - ability to adapt style to a variery of situations and people essential

Focused on standards and positive outcomes

Raise Education and Wellbeing School (Parent Level)

Kimberley Steele

[e-mail]

The Quest Centre
Brownlow Way
Bolton
Greater Manchester
BL1 3UB

Raise Education & Wellbeing School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. All post-holders are subject to an enhanced DBS check and must comply with the school’s safer recruitment and safeguarding policies.