Job Description
Social Worker – Looked After Children Team
Location: Southend-on-Sea
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Salary: £39,152 - £45,091 per annum
Sanctuary Personnel, a leading and award-winning recruitment agency, is recruiting a permanent Social Worker to join the Looked After Children (LAC) Team in Southend-on-Sea. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced or developing children’s social worker to make a meaningful impact on the lives of looked after children and young people within a supportive local authority environment.
About the Role
As a Social Worker in the Looked After Children Team, you will deliver high-quality, child-centred social work practice, ensuring positive outcomes for children and young people in care. You will manage a varied caseload, working collaboratively with families, carers, and partner agencies to promote stability, permanency, and wellbeing.
Key Responsibilities
* Undertake professional assessments of children, young people, and families to identify needs, risks, and strengths
* Analyse and evaluate complex information to produce clear, evidence-based assessments and achievable care plans
* Deliver holistic, relationship-based social work practice that considers children within their wider family and social networks
* Ensure all casework complies with statutory duties, safeguarding legislation, and local authority policies and procedures
* Maintain accurate, timely, and high-quality case recordings that clearly evidence decision-making and outcomes
* Prepare and submit reports, care plans, and statements for court proceedings, including Family Proceedings, County Court, and High Court
* Attend and contribute to reviews, conferences, and court hearings, presenting the local authority’s plans with confidence and professionalism
* Work proactively in partnership with multi-agency professionals, including health, education, and voluntary services
* Keep the Team Manager informed of workload pressures, risks, and case developments, seeking guidance when required
* Promote and adhere to Health and Safety policies and best practice at all times
* Undertake additional duties appropriate to the grade, including providing cover where necessary
Requirements
* Degree or recognised qualification in Social Work (BA, MA, or equivalent)
* Social Work England registration (or eligibility to register)
* Sound knowledge of children’s social care legislation, including the Children Act and safeguarding frameworks
* Experience or understanding of working with Looked After Children and care planning processes
* Strong assessment, report writing, and court work skills
* Ability to manage a caseload effectively and work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team
Working with Sanctuary Personnel:
Sanctuary Personnel is a trusted and award-winning agency for roles. With an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot from over 1,000 reviews and many prestigious industry awards, we are dedicated to finding you the best possible rates in roles that match your skills and experience.