Job Description: Supervised Contact Worker
Role Purpose
The Supervised Contact Worker facilitates and monitors court-appointed contact sessions between looked-after children and their parents, siblings, or wider family members. These sessions are carefully planned and usually take place once or twice a week, with the majority occurring regularly. Contact is typically held in or near the Town Centre, often in safe, neutral settings such as coffee shops or playgrounds. Foster carers deliver the child to the agreed location, where the Contact Worker remains present throughout the session, observing interactions and ensuring the child's emotional and physical wellbeing. On rare occasions, the role may require attending hospital-based contact.
The Supervised Contact Worker provides objective, high-quality observational reports and works closely with social workers to support statutory duties, family assessments, and the promotion of safe, meaningful relationships, playing a vital role within Children's Services and safeguarding practice.
Key Responsibilities
Supervision and Safety
1. Supervise contact sessions between children and their families, ensuring a safe, structured, and supportive environment.
2. Act as a supportive professional, intervening when conversations, behaviours, or situations become unsafe or inappropriate.
3. Identify and assess risks during contact, reporting concerns promptly to senior staff and social workers.
Observation, Reporting, and Assessment
4. Observe and record interactions objectively, maintaining accurate, detailed written reports for use by social workers, courts, and care planning professionals.
5. Provide clear, information that supports ongoing assessments and decision‑making regarding the child's welfare.
Children's Emotional Support
6. Ensure the child's needs, voice, and welfare remain central throughout all interactions.
7. Support children in managing the emotional impact of contact, helping them understand and process their experiences.
8. Encourage and model positive interaction between children and family members where appropriate.
Logistics and Practical Support
9. Transport children safely to and from contact venues, appointments, or community locations as required.
10. Set up contact environments to promote meaningful, safe family time, and maintain professional boundaries throughout.
Collaboration
11. Work closely with social workers, team leaders, and partner agencies to ensure statutory responsibilities are met.
12. Share relevant information in a timely and professional manner to support safeguarding and care planning.
Requirements and Skills
Essential
13. Experience working with children, young people, or vulnerable individuals in a social care, education, or community setting.
14. Strong verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with children, families, and professionals.
15. Excellent written communication skills for producing clear, accurate, and objective reports.
16. Ability to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to meet service needs.
17. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for travel between locations within the surrounding area.
Desirable
18. Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and child protection principles.
19. Understanding of the needs of looked‑after children and families in crisis.
20. Ability to manage challenging behaviour calmly and confidently.
Key Competencies
21. Child-centred approach
22. Professional boundaries
23. Safeguarding awareness
24. Emotional resilience
25. Observation and recording
26. Risk identification
27. Empathy and patience
28. Reliability and discretion
Pay rate £16.10 PAYE
Bedford and surrounding areas.
This role would be ideal for a Newly Qualified or Unqualified Social Worker who has experience of working within Children's services, who is looking for work within a Local Authority Setting.