Permanent Role With A Local Authority
Introduction
Herefordshire Council’s Safeguarding and Support Service is made up of six teams operating across three locality hubs:
* South Locality – Ross-on-Wye
* North Locality – Leominster
* Central Locality – Hereford
Each locality team consists of a Team Manager, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers and Family Support Workers, enabling strong multi-disciplinary collaboration and effective locality-based practice. Locality working allows social workers to remain connected to their communities, build strong local partnerships, and access consistent management and peer support.
We are proud of our restorative and relational approach to social work. This way of working is embedded in our practice framework, supervision model and organisational culture. Collaboration, reflection and relationship-building are central to how we support children, young people and families, and how we support each other as professionals. Senior managers are accessible and committed to providing guidance, particularly in complex or high-risk cases.
Herefordshire is on an improvement journey and this is an exciting time to join us, with real opportunities to influence practice, shape services and make a lasting difference to children and families.
The Role
As a Children’s Social Worker in Safeguarding & Support, you will hold a varied and rewarding caseload of children and young people who require support under Child in Need, Child Protection and Care Proceedings frameworks.
You will work directly with children, young people and their families to identify risks, build on strengths and create sustainable change. This includes undertaking high-quality assessments, developing clear and effective plans, and delivering purposeful interventions that prioritise safety, wellbeing and positive outcomes.
You will build trusting, respectful relationships with children and families, ensuring that the voice of the child is central to all assessment, planning and decision-making. Where possible, you will work in partnership with families to enable them to make the changes needed to keep children safe within their family networks. Where this is not possible, you will take decisive and proportionate action to secure alternative safe care arrangements, doing so in a skilled, sensitive and child-focused way.
You will work closely with colleagues across the service, partner agencies and universal services to deliver coordinated, effective support, contributing to a culture of learning, reflection and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Practice with Children, Young People and Families
* Undertake statutory social work duties in line with the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children and local policies and procedures
* Complete timely, analytical and child-centred assessments of need and risk
* Develop, implement and review robust plans to safeguard children and promote their welfare
* Work directly with children and young people to understand their lived experiences, wishes and feelings
* Build and maintain effective, respectful relationships with families, using a strengths-based and restorative approach
* Take appropriate action to protect children at risk of significant harm, including initiating legal proceedings when required
Safeguarding and Risk Management
* Identify, assess and manage risk effectively, using professional judgement and evidence-based practice
* Chair and contribute to core group meetings, child protection conferences and multi-agency planning forums
* Prepare high-quality reports and court documentation within required timescales
* Give evidence in court proceedings as required
Partnership and Multi-Agency Working
* Work collaboratively with partner agencies including health, education, police and voluntary sector organisations
* Contribute to integrated, multi-agency plans that improve outcomes for children and families
* Share information appropriately and professionally to safeguard children
Professional Practice and Development
* Maintain accurate, timely and reflective case records in line with statutory and organisational requirements
* Participate in regular supervision, reflective practice sessions and team meetings
* Engage positively with learning, development and practice improvement opportunities
* Contribute to the development of the service and support the learning of students, newly qualified social workers or colleagues as appropriate
About You
We are looking for social workers who are:
* Passionate about safeguarding children and supporting families to create meaningful change
* Skilled in assessment, planning and delivering purposeful interventions
* Confident in making difficult decisions and managing risk in complex situations
* Resilient, reflective and able to work effectively under pressure
* Committed to collaborative, inclusive and restorative practice
* Able to work effectively as part of a supportive team while managing their own workload
Essential Requirements
* Social Work qualification (Degree, DipSW or CQSW)
* Registration with Social Work England
* Knowledge of relevant childcare legislation, statutory guidance and best practice
* Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
What We Offer
In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
* Market rate supplement of £5,000 per annum
* Welcome payment of £10,000 (subject to eligibility criteria)
* Retention payment of £2,000 – £4,000 (depending on team)
* Relocation support of up to £10,000
* 31 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
* Flexible working options, including agile working, part-time hours and job sharing
* Clear career progression pathways and opportunities for advancement
* Protected time and budget for professional development
* Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
* Employee Assistance Programme providing 24/7 support and counselling
* Payment of professional membership fees (role dependent)
* Access to a wide range of staff discounts, cashback and wellbeing benefits