Senior Social Worker - Complex Child Protection Lead

LinsCare; Highgate; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

North West & Central Child Protection Enquiry Service in Birmingham is seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker (SSW) with statutory childrens social care experience to lead complex safeguarding work.

You will undertake Section 47 enquiries, contribute to multi-agency meetings, and supervise junior staff, ensuring child-centred, relationship-based practice. The role requires UK right to work, a recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.

Qualifications

• Recognised Social Work qualification.
• Current Social Work England registration.
• Significant post-qualifying experience within statutory children's social care.
• Strong experience undertaking Section 47 Child Protection Enquiries.
• Experience of complex Child and Family Assessments.
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and multi-agency child protection procedures.
• Strong analytical, assessment, report-writing and decision-making skills.
• Proven experience of effective multi-agency working.
• Ability to mentor, advise and support other Social Work practitioners.
• A commitment to child-centred, strengths-based and relationship-based practice.
• Understanding of anti-discriminatory, anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice.
• Must have a UK passport or a full right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Undertake complex Section 47 Child Protection Enquiries and Child and Family Assessments within statutory timescales.
• Participate in and contribute to Multi-Agency Strategy Meetings, Discussions and Child Protection Conferences.
• Undertake meaningful direct work with children, ensuring their wishes, feelings and lived experiences inform assessments and planning.
• Analyse complex safeguarding information, identify risks and protective factors, and make clear, evidence-based professional recommendations.
• Identify patterns of cumulative harm, including domestic abuse, neglect, physical harm, substance misuse, exploitation and serious youth violence.
• Develop effective safety plans with children, families and multi-agency professional networks.
• Work collaboratively with Police, Education, Health and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Provide professional advice, mentoring and guidance to Social Workers within the team.
• Promote reflective practice, professional curiosity and high standards of recording, assessment and decision-making.
• Support the Team Manager in maintaining effective workflow, timely case progression and safe practice during duty periods.

Skills

Analytical skills

Mentoring

Multi-agency collaboration

Decision-making

Relationship-based practice

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

North West & Central Child Protection Enquiry Service in Birmingham is seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker (SSW) with statutory childrens social care experience to lead complex safeguarding work.

You will undertake Section 47 enquiries, contribute to multi-agency meetings, and supervise junior staff, ensuring child-centred, relationship-based practice. The role requires UK right to work, a recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.