Social Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Regular supervision and development

Stable management team

Job summary

Worcestershire County Council's Through Care team is seeking a permanent, full-time social worker to support children on long-term permanent plans across varied care arrangements. The post centers on direct practice with children, parents and carers, managing risk and contributing to court processes.

You will chair core group meetings, complete s47 enquiries, deliver evidence-based reports for the court, and liaise with partner agencies.

Qualifications

• Experience in holistic assessments informing child protection planning.
• Strong understanding of public law work, including court orders such as care, supervision, special guardianship and placement orders, and how they affect children and families.
• Good understanding of permanency planning and timely decision-making within proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with children, parents and carers to understand their experiences, wishes and feelings
• Manage risk and provide safety for children and families, including chairing monthly core group meetings
• Complete s47 enquiries where significant safeguarding concerns arise
• Deliver reports for child protection conference
• Provide clear, evidence-based analysis and recommendations to assist the court and families in decision-making
• Liaise effectively with partner agencies to support safe and timely outcomes
• Maintain accurate and timely case records in line with statutory requirements and local policy
• Contribute to service learning and development within a reflective, supportive team

Skills

Holistic assessment

Public law knowledge

Court hearings experience

Risk management

Communication with families

Job description

Permanent, full-time social worker post in the Through Care team of Worcestershire County Council's children's safeguarding service, supporting children on long-term permanent plans across varied care arrangements. Core work is direct practice with children, parents and carers, managing risk, chairing core groups, completing s47 enquiries and advising the court. The team has a stable management group, regular supervision and hybrid working. Applicants need a good understanding of public law and permanency planning; court experience is desirable and training is provided.

What the job involves

• Work directly with children, parents and carers to understand their experiences, wishes and feelings
• Manage risk and provide safety for children and families, including chairing monthly core group meetings
• Complete s47 enquiries where significant safeguarding concerns arise
• Deliver reports for child protection conference
• Provide clear, evidence-based analysis and recommendations to assist the court and families in decision-making
• Liaise effectively with partner agencies to support safe and timely outcomes
• Maintain accurate and timely case records in line with statutory requirements and local policy
• Contribute to service learning and development within a reflective, supportive team

Experience

• Completing holistic assessments and making and delivering recommendations from reports to inform child protection planning

Skills & knowledge

• Passionate, skilled and confident practice with children and families
• Good understanding of public law work, including court orders such as care, supervision, special guardianship and placement orders, and how they affect children and families
• Good understanding of permanency planning and timely decision-making within proceedings

Checks & eligibility

• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check, including cautions, reprimands, final warnings and convictions, before appointment is confirmed

Nice to have

• Experience of court work

What’s offered

• Access to high-quality training, supervision and development opportunities
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Regular supervision, manageable caseloads and regular team meetings
• Stable, permanent management group
• Market forces supplement of £4,000 on top of basic pay