Durham County Council Children's Safeguarding Social Worker Up to £32 per hour Durham County Council is seeking an Experienced Social Worker to join our dedicated and busy Safeguarding Team. We are looking for a skilled, committed, and resilient professional ready to protect and promote the welfare of children and young people across the county. Key Responsibilities You will manage a complex, varied statutory caseload from initial intervention through to long-term planning and court proceedings. Your key responsibilities will include: * Assessment Work: Undertaking high-quality Children and Family Assessments (C&F assessments) within statutory timescales, with a focus on risk analysis and intervention planning. * Case Progression: Working with children and families under all levels of statutory involvement, including Child in Need (CIN), Child Protection (CP), PLO (Public Law Outline), and full Court proceedings. * Meeting Facilitation: Taking responsibility for preparing for and leading multi-agency meetings, including chairing Core Groups and Child in Need meetings. * Court Expertise: Writing robust Court evidence (statements and care plans) and competently attending Court to present evidence and represent the Local Authority. * Looked After Children (LAC): Writing high-quality Children in Our Care (CLA) reports and plans to ensure permanence and stability for our looked after children. * Legal Processes: Attending and contributing effectively to all pre-proceedings meetings, including PLO meetings. * Management Support: Undertaking other social work related tasks identified by your manager to ensure the smooth running of the team and effective service delivery. Working Pattern We support flexible working to balance professional demands with personal life, subject to service needs: * Hybrid Model: We currently operate a hybrid working model, requiring 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home. Please note this ratio may be subject to change to meet the operational needs of the service and our commitment to face-to-face contact with children and families. Requirements * A recognised Social Work qualification and current Social Work England registration. * Significant post-qualifying experience in a statutory children's safeguarding environment. * Strong verbal and written communication skills for effective multi-agency liaison and court work. * A commitment to reflective and evidence-based practice. If you are a dedicated Social Worker with a passion for safeguarding, apply today to join our team in Durham