Social Worker - Children Family First

Leaders in Care; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Flexible working arrangements

Employee Assistance Programme

Staff network groups

Job summary

Leaders in Care are recruiting a Children’s Social Worker at Level 2 or Level 3 for the South Coast area. The role involves managing CIN and CP cases, delivering ongoing assessments, and working with schools, health, police and partners to safeguard children.

Roles include supervision, progression opportunities, and flexible arrangements. The role offers a permanent full-time or part-time pathway with robust induction, supervision and development opportunities, plus relocation support where

Qualifications

• Significant frontline safeguarding social work experience.
• Experience managing complex CIN and CP casework.
• Strong assessment, analytical and decision-making skills.
• Ability to travel across the local area.
• Social Work England registration.
• Mentoring colleagues or students preferred.

Responsibilities

• Managing cases at Child in Need and Child Protection level.
• Completing ongoing assessment, risk analysis, safety planning and intervention.
• Developing clear, child-focused plans alongside children, parents and wider family networks.
• Reviewing progress regularly and adapting plans to ensure effectiveness.
• Working closely with schools, health colleagues, police and other partner agencies.
• Providing purposeful direct work with children and families.
• Identifying when legal intervention may be necessary and contributing to pre-proceedings planning.
• Supporting less experienced colleagues and students at Level 3.
• Maintaining high-quality recording, reports and professional recommendations.

Skills

Frontline safeguarding

CIN & CP experience

Assessment & decision-making

Risk analysis

Communication

Mentoring

Social Work England registration

Job description

Children’s Social Worker – Level 2 / 3

Children & Families First Team | South Coast

Salary:

• Level 2 – Band 10: Starting salary of £45,529
• Level 3 – Band 11: Starting salary of £49,817
  Pro rata for part-time colleagues.

Are you an experienced Children’s Social Worker looking for a long-term statutory role where you can build meaningful relationships and create sustainable change for children and families?

We’re recruiting Children’s Social Workers at Level 2 and Level 3 to join established Children & Families First Teams within a supportive local authority on the South Coast.

This is an opportunity to work with children and families who require longer-term intervention following assessment. You’ll manage Child in Need and Child Protection plans, helping families address risk, improve outcomes and, wherever possible, keep children safely within their family network.

The role

You’ll take responsibility for a complex and rewarding caseload, providing consistent, relationship-based Social Work to children and families requiring ongoing statutory intervention.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing cases at Child in Need and Child Protection level
• Completing ongoing assessment, risk analysis, safety planning and intervention
• Developing clear, child-focused plans alongside children, parents and wider family networks
• Reviewing progress regularly and adapting plans to ensure they remain effective
• Working closely with schools, health colleagues, police and other partner agencies
• Providing purposeful direct work with children and families
• Identifying when legal intervention may be necessary and contributing to robust pre-proceedings planning
• Supporting less experienced colleagues and students at Level 3
• Maintaining high-quality recording, reports and professional recommendations

About you

To be successful, you’ll bring:

• Significant frontline safeguarding Social Work experience
• Experience managing complex Child in Need and Child Protection casework
• Strong assessment, analytical and decision-making skills
• Confidence working with risk, uncertainty and professional challenge
• The ability to form constructive relationships with children, families and partner agencies
• Excellent communication, organisation and conflict-resolution skills
• Experience mentoring colleagues or students, or willingness to undertake Practice Education training
• Social Work England registration
• The ability to travel across the local area

What’s on offer

• Starting salary of £45,529 at Level 2 or £49,817 at Level 3
• Permanent full‑time and part‑time opportunities
• Full induction and Practice Fundamentals support
• Manageable caseloads and regular, high‑quality supervision
• Clear progression routes and excellent development opportunities
• 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing after two years’ continuous service
• Flexible working arrangements
• Modern, refurbished office spaces
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff network groups and an inclusive workplace culture
• Relocation support, subject to approval

If you’re passionate about delivering high-quality, relationship-based Social Work and supporting children to remain safe and thrive within their families, this is a fantastic opportunity to develop your career close to the South Coast.