Senior Social Worker - Children & Complex Caseload

Opus People Solutions Limited; Stowmarket; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk County Council are seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join the Social Care Team in Stowmarket. You will manage a complex caseload across Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children and Assessment work, delivering high-quality interventions to safeguard children and families.

Located at 127 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket IP14 1BB, the role offers 37 hours per week, temporary contract, and£40.50 per hour with three office-based days.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
• Significant experience working within Children's Social Care.
• Proven ability to manage a complex caseload involving children and families.
• Experience undertaking Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children, and Assessment work.
• Strong assessment, analysis, and decision-making skills.
• Experience designing and implementing effective interventions that achieve positive outcomes.
• Ability to complete high-quality assessments and reports to a consistently high standard.
• Confident presenting complex and sensitive information within multi-agency and legal settings.
• Experience supporting, mentoring, or supervising colleagues to promote high standards of practice.
• Excellent knowledge of children's safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure while maintaining high-quality practice.
• Commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex social work caseload, currently averaging approximately 40 cases.
• Make and implement autonomous professional decisions in cases involving high levels of complexity, risk, uncertainty, and challenge, with management oversight where required.
• Complete assessments of risk and need and develop effective plans to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Deliver targeted interventions that address identified needs and reduce safeguarding concerns.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with partner agencies to coordinate services and support.
• Lead and undertake Section 47 Child Protection investigations, ensuring timely and thorough enquiries where significant harm is suspected.
• Prepare high-quality reports, assessments, and court documents that are analytical, evidence-based, and outcome-focused.
• Participate effectively in multi-agency meetings, statutory reviews, conferences, and legal proceedings.
• Support and contribute to the development of colleagues and promote reflective social work practice.

Education

Qualified Social Worker (Social Work England registration)

Job description

Suffolk County Council are seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join the Social Care Team in Stowmarket. You will manage a complex caseload across Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children and Assessment work, delivering high-quality interventions to safeguard children and families.

Located at 127 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket IP14 1BB, the role offers 37 hours per week, temporary contract, and£40.50 per hour with three office-based days.