Senior Social Worker - Child Protection
Plymouth City Council
Up to £42 per hour
Plymouth City Council is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Social Worker to join our busy and supportive Child Protection team. This is a vital role managing complex and high-risk cases, contributing significantly to safeguarding the most vulnerable children in the city.
We are looking for a practitioner who can provide expert intervention and demonstrate advanced knowledge of the legal framework surrounding child protection.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
As a Senior Social Worker, you will be expected to:
* Manage a complex caseload of children subject to statutory intervention, demonstrating high-level analytical and risk assessment skills.
* Lead multi-agency strategy discussions and effectively chair complex meetings.
* Prepare robust assessments and court documentation to the highest standard, meeting strict legal deadlines.
* Work collaboratively with legal services, CAFCASS, and partner agencies to achieve positive and timely permanency outcomes for children.
* Provide peer support and mentoring to less experienced colleagues within the team.
Desirable Experience
*
ParentAssess Training: Experience or certification as a ParentAssess trained practitioner is highly desirable, enabling you to conduct specialist, high-quality parenting assessments.
Requirements:
* Qualification and Registration: A recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England (SWE).
* Local Authority Experience: A minimum of 3 years' permanent experience working directly within a Local Authority Children's Services team.
* Specialist Experience: Extensive and demonstrable experience in Child Protection work, including Section 47 Enquiries, Child Protection Planning, and managing complex Child in Need and Child Protection cases.
* Legal Expertise: Proven, recent experience with Care Proceedings, including writing expert evidence, presenting to court, and implementing complex care plans