Safeguarding, Assessment, Adolescents & Looked‑After Children
1. Safeguarding & Risk Management: Skilled in identifying and managing risk for children and adolescents, including exploitation, missing episodes, contextual risks and complex family dynamics.
2. Assessment Expertise: Experienced in completing high‑quality Child & Family Assessments, risk assessments and LAC reviews, with strong analytical and planning skills.
3. Adolescent‑Focused Practice: Confident engaging young people affected by trauma, exploitation, harmful behaviours or peer/group influences, using relational and strengths‑based practice.
4. LAC Knowledge: Strong understanding of care planning, placement stability, pathway planning and improving outcomes for children in care.
5. Multi‑Agency Working: Works effectively with police, health, education, youth justice and voluntary services to coordinate safeguarding and support.
6. Communication & Engagement: Builds trust with young people, families and carers. Skilled in explaining processes, managing difficult conversations and keeping the child's voice central.
7. Advocacy & Inclusion: Champions children's rights, challenges inequality, and works sensitively with diverse cultures, identities and needs.
8. Case Management & Recording: Manages varied caseloads, writes high‑quality reports, meets statutory deadlines and maintains clear, accurate records.
9. Crisis Response: Able to respond quickly to escalating risk, missing incidents, placement instability or exploitation concerns with effective safety planning.
10. Team Contribution: Strong relationship builder; supports colleagues through joint work, reflection and professional curiosity.
Required Qualifications
Most employers typically require:
11. Social Work Degree (BA/MA/BSc/MSW) or equivalent qualified status
(e.g., Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), CQSW).
12. Registration with Social Work England.
13. Enhanced DBS check (children's workforce).
14. Continued professional development in areas such as:child protectioncontextual safeguardingexploitation (CSE/CCE)trauma‑informed practicecourt skills (for LAC and safeguarding roles).
Required Experience
Employers generally look for experience in:
15. Working with children, young people and families in statutory or high‑risk settings.
16. Completing Child & Family Assessments, risk assessments, and safety plans.
17. Managing safeguarding cases, including Section 17/47 work.
18. Experience with adolescents at risk, including exploitation, missing episodes or complex behaviours.
19. Supporting children in care, placements and pathway planning.
20. Working in multi‑agency environments (schools, police, youth justice, health etc.).
21. Producing high‑quality written reports, including court statements (role dependent).
22. Managing competing demands within a busy caseload.
Essential Skills & Competencies
23. Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
24. Ability to analyse information, assess risk and make sound decisions.
25. Confident working with challenging situations or resistant young people.
26. Trauma‑informed and relationship‑based practice.
27. Excellent communication, organisation and time‑management skills.
28. Ability to remain calm and professional during crisis situations.
29. Commitment to equality, diversity and anti‑discriminatory practice.
30. Digital literacy (case management systems, reporting tools, recording).