Social Worker - Family Safeguarding Team
At Bracknell Forest, you will get the support you need, when you need it because; we value you and invest in you so that you flourish and have the tools, experiences, and support to do your job well!
Our Childrens Social Care service is proudly Outstanding in all areas (Ofsted, December 2025), with inspectors calling our practitioners effusive about working in Bracknell and praising our highly effective Social Work Academy.
We are a small, welcoming and friendly local authority where you will have the opportunity to build strong, positive and supportive working relationships with colleagues and peers with an embedded culture and ethos of bettering vulnerable childrens lives. You will experience leaders who are visible, approachable and a service who collectively has unwavering commitment to children.
Main duties of the job
You will hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. You will have successfully completed your ASYE and have experience of frontline social work which includes child in need and child protection.
You will be passionate about relational social work and committed in joining our embedded culture and ethos of bettering vulnerable childrens lives. You will be committed to understanding the lived experiences of children being a fierce advocate for children and providing the support required to better childhood experiences.
To thrive in this role, you will bring an understanding of the relevant legislation, guidance, policies and thresholds that underpin safeguarding. You will have experience of effective multiagency working, building partnerships and coproducing needsled safety plans for children and young people. You will be able to demonstrate your analytical skills, ability to assess information, identify actions and record timely accurate information.
About us
In December 2025 Ofsted concluded that since the last inspection, leaders, managers and practitioners have not only sustained outstanding services but have raised the bar even higher.
We use the Family Safeguarding Model in our approach to collaborate with families to keep them together, where it is safe to do so, supported by Motivational Interviewing. December 2025 Ofsted recognised our model operates consistently and effectively and embraces a relational approach, with explicit commitment to understanding the culture and diverse needs of families.
Children experiencing neglect or domestic abuse receive exceptional and expert in-house specialist help.
When risks escalated our conscientious managers take decisive action and with you with focus on the lived experience of children. Permanence planning meetings secure timely decision-making, enabling children to thrive and Social workers consider all permanence options for children and contingency planning is in place so that children are offered the best permanence option.
Social workers were recognised by inspectors as committed to understanding the lived experiences of children and responding to help them have improved home conditions and better childhood experiences. Families are positive about their experiences with social workers, and we know practitioners are having a positive impact in supporting families.
Job responsibilities
Key objectives of the role:
To work as part of the multi-agency, Family Safeguarding Team, supporting children, young adults and their families where there are complex social issues. To provide appropriate social work support and interventions in an integrated way with our internal and external partners.
As a social worker within the Family Safeguarding Team, you will contribute to the provision of Childrens Social Care services ensuring childrens views are heard and advocated for. You will work within the context of relevant legislation and will deliver services according to the departments policies, procedures and guidelines. You will drive plans forward to achieve better outcomes.
To display a commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.
Daily and monthly responsibilities:
Provide social work expertise to the multi-disciplinary care team, provide advice training and support and act as first point of contact for enquiries from the care team.
To identify the needs of children and families, promote intervention and safeguarding.
To work with Adult Workers (domestic abuse, mental health and substance misuse workers) as part of a multi-disciplinary team and other professionals within Child in Need and Child Protection Plans.
To participate in external multi-disciplinary meetings with statutory and non-statutory organisations and agencies relating to children, young people and their families, Example: Child Protection Conferences, Child in Need meetings.
To develop effective relationships with children, young people and their families to improve impact of work and determine the level of service available ensuring written plans are agreed with the CYP and their families and reflect their views.
Take the lead for safeguarding children and young people who may be at risk, offering advice support and training on safeguarding matters as required. Provide regular reports.
To manage a caseload of Child in Need, Child Protection, Care Proceedings and Children Looked After.
To take part in the team Duty system responding to concerns as and when they arise.
To make effective use of time and be able to prioritise workload, ensuring timeliness invisiting, report writing and other deadlines.
To attend and prepare for regular supervision with your supervisor, utilise critical reflection to be able to set clear goals and intervention strategies.
To promote and take account at all times of equality, diversity, dignity and to promote the rights of children, young people and their families.
To monitor and evaluate demand and bring to the attention of the supervisor any resource shortfall.
To develop and maintain accurate case records and comply with the department's policies, procedures and guidelines including security of information.
To promote listening to children at every opportunity; ensuring their views are heard, recorded and acted upon in an appropriate and timely manner.
To ensure access to translation and interpretation services as necessary.
To contribute to the development of services to children and families by attending and contributing positively to team meetings to promote the delivery of integrated and effective services for children in need and in need of protection.
To provide cover for the work of other team members and other additional duties commensurate with the level of the job. (The nature of these will vary according to experience, competencies and the grade of the post).
Person Specification
Experience
* Understanding of and commitment to the requirements of safeguarding children, young people, vulnerable adults and promoting their welfare.
* Understanding of the Childrens Act, Adoption and Children act, Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations
* Understanding of the Framework for Assessment and Working Together
* Understanding of Child in Need, Child Protection and Children Looked After plans.
* Assessment and intervention skills with children and families.
* Understanding of, and commitment to the principles of
* participatory practice with children and young people
* Ability to listen to the views of children and young people and take their views into account when making decisions that affect them
* Experience of working within the Family Safeguarding Model.
* Experience of Care Proceedings and Private Law.
Qualifications
* Degree in Social Work or equivalent
* Social Work England registration
* ASYE completion
* Experience of working with children and families
* Post Qualifying Training
* Motivational Interviewing Training
* Experience in Family Safeguarding
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£46,783 to £48,873 a year inclusive of London Weighting and Essential Car User Allowance
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working
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