3 month contract role with a Local Authority (4 Posts Available: 1 x 12-month secondment cover, 1 x 3-month maternity cover, 2 x 3-month contracts with potential extension) Job Summary: • Provide high-quality statutory social work support within the Children in Care service, ensuring the safety, wellbeing and positive outcomes for children and young people in care. • Manage a caseload of children and young people, building strong and trusting relationships with them, their families and carers. • Contribute to care planning, permanency planning and reunification work using a relationship-based and restorative practice approach. • Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary partners to ensure children receive stable, supportive and therapeutic care environments. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Manage a caseload of children and young people within the Children in Care service. • Undertake statutory visits, assessments and reviews in accordance with statutory guidance and council policies. • Develop, implement and review care plans and permanency plans to achieve the best outcomes for children. • Work closely with children, families, foster carers and residential providers to support stability and wellbeing. • Support reunification planning where appropriate and work with families to promote positive change. • Participate in looked after child reviews, case conferences and multi-agency meetings. • Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records in line with statutory and organisational requirements. • Work collaboratively with education, health services, police and other partner agencies. • Apply restorative and relationship-based practice principles in all aspects of social work practice. • Ensure safeguarding concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately. Skills/Experience: • Qualified Social Worker with relevant professional registration. • Experience working with Children in Care / Looked After Children services. • Strong knowledge of child protection and safeguarding procedures. • Experience managing complex caseloads involving vulnerable children and families. • Ability to develop strong relationships with children, carers and families. • Experience contributing to care planning, permanency planning and reunification work. • Strong assessment and analytical skills. • Experience working collaboratively with multi-agency partners. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills including report writing. • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced statutory social care environment. • Competence in using case management systems and IT packages. Additional Information: • Bi-Weekly Payments. • Client: Walsall Council – Children’s Services. • Working Pattern: Hybrid – 3 days office / 2 days home working. • Hours: 37 hours per week (09:00 – 17:30). • Rate: Up to £33.30 per hour. • DfE form must be completed and submitted with the application. • Average caseload: approximately 15 children and young people. • Teams include Team Manager, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers and Family Support Workers. • The service offers clinical supervision, therapeutic support and training opportunities to support practitioner wellbeing and development.