Overview
Social Worker - 12 Month Secondment role at Guardian Jobs.
What you’ll be doing
* Manage a varied caseload of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) and care leavers up to the age of 25, providing high-quality social work support tailored to each individual’s circumstances.
* Work closely with the Home Office, Refugee Council, solicitors and other professionals to ensure each young person receives care, advice and advocacy. Manage risk, prepare reports, undertake statutory visits and attend Looked After Reviews.
* Plan smooth, well-supported transitions to adulthood to help young people gain confidence and stability as they move toward independence.
* Where age is disputed, undertake age assessments in line with policy and best practice.
* Maintain accurate, factual case recordings in Mosaic, written in a clear, respectful and young person-friendly tone.
* Fulfil a full case-holding role with empathy, resilience and professional skill to make a lasting difference.
What you’ll bring
* Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England, with post-qualifying experience in a statutory setting.
* Strong understanding of legislation affecting looked-after children and care leavers (Children Act 1989; Leaving Care Act 2000; Children and Social Work Act 2017; Modern Slavery Act 2015).
* Direct experience working with looked-after children, including placement planning and transitions; able to manage complex cases with autonomy.
* Systemic, strengths-based approach; understanding of trauma, displacement and loss in relation to young people.
* Excellent communication skills; ability to build trust and engage sensitively with children and young people from diverse backgrounds.
* Creativity and initiative to contribute to service improvement and meet emerging needs.
Why join us
At RBKC, we invest in our people and communities. You’ll be part of an Outstanding Children’s Services team recognised nationally for stability, innovation and impact. The role is challenging but rewarding, with opportunities for supervision, mentoring and development, including trauma-informed and systemic practice training.
We offer a strong team culture that values collaboration, learning and mutual support.
About Us
Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities and aims to support residents with care and competence. We listen to residents, act with integrity and work to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all. The role reflects our collaborative mindset: you’ll provide consistent, thoughtful support to unaccompanied minors and care leavers as they navigate complex systems and new beginnings.
Role requirements and interview details
* This role requires an Enhanced DBS with Adults and Children’s Barred List.
* Interviews will take place on 18th and 19th November 2025.
Ready to join us?
We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.
We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
New hires will normally start at the minimum of the pay scale. However, a higher starting salary may be negotiated where a candidate demonstrates exceptional skills, knowledge, or experience.
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