Social Worker – Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Team

Service Care; Birmingham; Hybride; GBP 38 000 - 54 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Hybrid working

Mileage allowance (£0.45/mile)

Time Off in Lieu (TOIL)

Eclipse training / case management

Résumé du poste

Birmingham City Council’s UASC Team is seeking an experienced Social Worker to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The role offers a competitive rate of £33.30 per hour (Umbrella) with hybrid working and a 3-month initial contract.

The team handles safeguarding, assessments, and care planning for children aged 0–21 across Birmingham city-wide. You will join a supportive service with emphasis on relationship-based practice and professional development, working with multidisciplinary

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with current registration in Social Work England.
• Experience with vulnerable children in statutory settings.
• Strong safeguarding, risk assessment and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of Children Act 1989 and related legislation.
• Excellent communication, advocacy, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload in a fast-paced environment.

Responsabilités

• Undertake comprehensive assessments of need and risk for UASC.
• Contribute to age assessments and decisions where age disputed.
• Arrange, monitor and review placements under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989.
• Develop care and pathway plans and safeguarding interventions.
• Identify and respond to risks including exploitation, trafficking, missing, homelessness.
• Support asylum-seeking children through the process and uphold welfare rights.
• Collaborate with Home Office, police, education, health, legal and voluntary sectors.
• Maintain accurate case records using Eclipse.
• Promote strengths-based, restorative and relationship-focused social work.

Connaissances

Social work

Safeguarding

Risk assessment

Communication

Report writing

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Formation

Social Work degree/diploma

Outils

Eclipse

Description du poste

Social Worker – Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Team

Location: Birmingham – One Avenue, Aston, B6 4DU

Employer: Birmingham City Council

Rate of Pay: £33.30 per hour (Umbrella)

Contract: Initial 3-month contract

Hours: 36.5 hours per week

Working Pattern: Hybrid – 2 flexible office days per week

Team: Children's Services – Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC)

Caseload: Approximately 16–20 cases

Recruitment Agency: Service Care Solutions

About the Role

Service Care Solutions is recruiting an experienced and passionate Children's Social Worker to join Birmingham City Council's Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Team, offering a competitive rate of £33.30 per hour Umbrella . This is a fantastic opportunity to make a genuine difference to some of Birmingham's most vulnerable children and young people, supporting those who have arrived in the UK without a parent or carer. The UASC Team is a dynamic, city-wide frontline service responsible for safeguarding unaccompanied children, responding to new arrivals, undertaking assessments, arranging suitable accommodation and supporting young people as they transition into adulthood. You will join a supportive and developing service that promotes relationship-based practice, professional development and positive outcomes for children and young people aged 0–21. Previous UASC experience is desirable but not essential. We are particularly interested in Social Workers with transferable experience from Children's Safeguarding, Children in Care, Leaving Care, Assessment and Intervention, or Exploitation Services.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertaking comprehensive assessments of need and risk for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
• Contributing to age assessments and decision-making where a young person's age is disputed.
• Arranging, monitoring and reviewing placements under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989.
• Developing and implementing care plans, pathway plans and safeguarding interventions.
• Identifying and responding to risks involving child exploitation, trafficking, missing episodes and homelessness.
• Supporting children and young people throughout the asylum process, ensuring their welfare and rights remain central to practice.
• Working collaboratively with the Home Office, police, education providers, health professionals, legal representatives and voluntary organisations.
• Supporting care-experienced young people as they prepare for independence and adulthood.
• Providing ongoing support to eligible care leavers up to the age of 21.
• Maintaining accurate case records and statutory documentation using the Eclipse case management system.
• Promoting strengths-based, restorative and relationship-focused social work practice.

Please note: This position does not involve court work.

Essential Requirements

• A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, Diploma or equivalent).
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families in statutory social care settings.
• Strong safeguarding, risk assessment and analytical skills.
• An understanding of relevant children's legislation, including the Children Act 1989.
• Confidence in managing complex situations and making informed professional decisions.
• Excellent communication, advocacy, assessment and report-writing skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies.
• The ability to manage a varied caseload effectively within a fast-paced environment.

Transferable Experience Welcomed

Birmingham City Council welcomes applications from Social Workers with experience in:

• Children in Care / Looked After Children.
• Leaving Care and Care Leavers Services.
• Duty and Assessment / Assessment and Intervention.
• Child Protection and Safeguarding.
• MASH / Front Door Services.
• Contextual Safeguarding and Exploitation.
• Working with vulnerable adolescents and young adults.
• Refugee, migrant or asylum-seeking services.

You do not need to have previously worked within a UASC Team. Practitioners who can demonstrate strong assessment skills, professional curiosity, resilience and a commitment to supporting vulnerable young people are encouraged to apply.

Working Arrangements and Team Information

• Pay: £33.30 per hour Umbrella.
• Hybrid working: 2 office-based days per week, with flexibility over which days.
• Working hours: 36.5 hours per week.
• Contract: Initial 3-month assignment.
• Caseload: Approximately 16–20 cases.
• Service coverage: Birmingham city-wide.
• Team structure: 5 Team Managers overseeing Social Workers and Personal Advisers.
• Supervision: Monthly reflective supervision.
• Case management system: Eclipse, with online training available.
• Mileage allowance: £0.45 per mile for eligible business mileage, excluding travel from home.
• Additional hours: Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) arrangements available.
• Part-time/job share: Subject to discussion.

Why Join Birmingham's UASC Team?

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of an ambitious and developing service dedicated to supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

• A supportive management structure that values reflective and strengths-based practice.
• Monthly supervision with a coaching-focused approach.
• Opportunities to develop specialist knowledge of UASC legislation, safeguarding and care planning.
• An average caseload of 16–20.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• The opportunity to work alongside experienced Social Workers, Personal Advisers and partner agencies.
• A working environment that champions professional development, positive relationships and high-quality social work practice.
• Above all, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference to children and young people who have experienced significant uncertainty, trauma and adversity.