Senior Practitioner - Duty and Short Term Help Team

Opus People Solutions Limited; Walsall; Híbrido; GBP 38.000 - 54.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Walsall Council is seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join its Duty & Short Term Help Team in a fast-paced frontline environment.

You will undertake assessments, lead child protection investigations, and manage complex caseloads to safeguard children and families.

Formación

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
• ASYE completed with at least 3 years' permanent experience as a statutory Children's Social Worker.
• Full UK driving licence with use of car for business purposes.
• Proven safeguarding experience in statutory children’s services.

Responsabilidades

• Work collaboratively within a dedicated Safeguarding Team to assess risk, deliver timely interventions, and safeguard children, young people, and families.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments and develop outcome-focused care and support plans that promote safety, wellbeing, and positive long-term outcomes.
• Provide mentoring, guidance, and professional support to less experienced Social Workers, helping to develop best practice and professional confidence.
• Build effective working relationships with partner agencies, including schools, health services, police, and voluntary organisations, to deliver coordinated multi-agency support.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and social work best practice to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Manage a varied caseload across a range of statutory services, including Team Around the Family (TAF), Child Protection, Court Proceedings, and Adoption work.
• Prepare high-quality reports, assessments, and court documentation, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and organisational standards.
• Promote the voice of the child and family in all aspects of assessment, planning, and decision-making.

Conocimientos

Safeguarding

Multi-agency collaboration

Risk assessment

Decision making under pressure

Educación

Social Work degree

Descripción del empleo

About the Role

Walsall Council is seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join its Duty & Short Term Help Team. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled Children's Social Worker who is passionate about safeguarding and achieving positive outcomes for children, young people, and families. Working within a fast-paced frontline service, you will undertake assessments, lead child protection investigations, manage complex caseloads, and work collaboratively with families and partner agencies to ensure children are safe and supported. This role is ideal for a confident practitioner who thrives in a duty environment, can make sound professional decisions under pressure, and is committed to delivering high-quality social work practice.

Location: Civic Centre, Walsall, WS1 1TP

Rate: £33.30 per hour (Umbrella rate)

Contract: Temporary - 6-12 months

Hours: 37 hours per week

Office Requirements: Hybrid Working (Minimum 3 Office Days Per Week)

Key Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively within a dedicated Safeguarding Team to assess risk, deliver timely interventions, and safeguard children, young people, and families.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments and develop outcome-focused care and support plans that promote safety, wellbeing, and positive long-term outcomes.
• Provide mentoring, guidance, and professional support to less experienced Social Workers, helping to develop best practice and professional confidence.
• Build effective working relationships with partner agencies, including schools, health services, police, and voluntary organisations, to deliver coordinated multi-agency support.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and social work best practice to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Manage a varied caseload across a range of statutory services, including Team Around the Family (TAF), Child Protection, Court Proceedings, and Adoption work.
• Prepare high-quality reports, assessments, and court documentation, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and organisational standards.
• Promote the voice of the child and family in all aspects of assessment, planning, and decision-making.

About You

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
• ASYE completed with at least 3 years' permanent experience as a statutory Children's Social Worker.
• Full UK driving licence with use of car for business purposes.
• Proven experience within safeguarding and statutory children's services.
• Strong working knowledge of Child Protection, Court Work, Team Around the Family, and Adoption processes.
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-agency environment and manage complex caseloads.

We are looking for professionals who embody Walsall Council's core behaviours:

• Professionalism - embracing innovation, continuous improvement, and positive change.
• Accountability - taking ownership of decisions, actions, and professional development.
• Transparency - working collaboratively and sharing knowledge to achieve the best outcomes.
• Ethical Practice - treating everyone with dignity, respect, fairness, and integrity.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. A DBS check may be applicable for this role, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.

If you are an experienced Children's Social Worker looking for your next challenge within a Duty & Short Term Help Team, we'd love to hear from you.