Children's Social Worker

SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL; United States; Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS

Flexible working options

Training opportunities

Career development

Generous leave

Staff networks

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking a Social Worker to join the Post-Adoption Service, supporting families and Special Guardianship Order carers. You will handle telephone and electronic enquiries, provide informed advice, and signpost to relevant services, while maintaining accurate records.

The role offers flexible and hybrid working arrangements, with opportunities to develop expertise in adoption and multi‑agency collaboration and to contribute to service development.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and listening skills for engaging with parents, carers and professionals.
• Calm, thoughtful and solution-focused when supporting anxious or distressed families.
• Good assessment and analytical skills to identify next steps and referrals.
• Clear written communication and good organisational abilities.
• Understanding of safeguarding, boundaries and information sharing.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multi‑disciplinary, multi‑agency service.
• Experience or knowledge of adoption, Special Guardianship or trauma is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Respond to enquiries for the Post-Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Service, mainly by telephone and electronic communications.
• Provide calm, sensitive, professional responses and signpost to in-house and external services.
• Identify appropriate next steps and referrals to support management decisions.
• Recognise safeguarding or welfare concerns and escalate as required.
• Collaborate with professionals and partner agencies; share information as appropriate.
• Maintain clear records using Suffolk's electronic systems.
• Manage multiple enquiries with confidentiality and data protection in mind.
• Be part of a front-door team delivering responsive, accessible post‑order support.

Skills

Strong communication

Active listening

Calm under pressure

Analytical skills

Written communication

Safeguarding knowledge

Information sharing

Multi-agency collaboration

Adoption/SG knowledge

Job description

As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, we're driven to make a positive difference to the environment, the communities we serve and the careers of our people. That's why, when you join us as a Social Worker, you'll be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services as well as your career. Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

• Respond to enquiries and requests for the Post-Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Service, primarily by telephone and through electronic communication.
• Provide a calm, sensitive and professional response to parents and carers, including those who may be experiencing significant stress around concerns about their child's emotional or behavioural needs. Providing families with relevant information, resources and advice and signpost to appropriate in-house, community and specialist services where required.
• Use your assessment and analytical skills to identify appropriate next steps, including referral into the Post-Adoption Service, advice, signposting or access to other services. This will include completing initial enquiries, referrals and assessments to support management decision-making.
• Recognise when families may be experiencing significant difficulties due to the impact of trauma, attachment and developmental needs and respond in a containing and supportive way. Ensuring you identify and appropriately elevate any safeguarding, risk or welfare concerns in line with Suffolk County Council policy and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with professionals and partner agencies, sharing information appropriately and supporting effective multi-agency working.
• Use Suffolk County Council's electronic recording systems to maintain clear, timely and accurate records of contacts, assessments, decisions and actions.
• Manage competing enquiries and priorities effectively, using good organisational and time-management skills whilst maintaining appropriate standards of confidentiality, information governance and data protection.
• Work as part of a supportive, knowledgeable Post-Adoption Service, in the development of a consistent and accessible front-door service, helping families receive the right response as early as possible., You will be part of the front door to our Post-Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Service, providing a responsive, welcoming and informed first point of contact for adoptive families and Special Guardianship Order carers seeking advice, support or access to services. You will be joining our modern, updated service and staff members who are enthusiastic, committed and motivated about providing good quality, post order support.

The role is primarily telephone and office/home-based, rather than community-based direct work with children and families. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements are available in accordance with service requirements. There will be opportunities to work alongside colleagues across the Post-Adoption Service, contribute to service development and build specialist knowledge in adoption and Special Guardianship support.

Strong communication and listening skills, with the ability to engage sensitively and confidently with parents, carers and professionals.

• The ability to remain calm, thoughtful and solution-focused when speaking with people who may be anxious, frustrated or distressed.
• Good assessment and analytical skills, including the ability to identify relevant information and distinguish between immediate concerns and longer-term support needs.
• Good organisational skills and clear and accurate written communication skills.
• An understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries and information sharing.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency service.
• Experience or knowledge of adoption, Special Guardianship, trauma, attachment or complex family systems would be advantageous, but specialist training and support will be provided.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
• Plus lots more!