The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
Reading Borough Council is looking for a skilled and passionate Contextual Safeguarding Social Worker to join our Extra Familial Harm Team.
This is a senior and influential role focused on driving forward contextual safeguarding practice across the service. You’ll play a key part in shifting the focus from individual interventions to understanding and addressing risks in peer groups, schools, neighbourhoods, and online environments.
Working closely with partners and internal teams, you will lead on contextual assessments, influence multi-agency decision-making, and support practitioners to embed innovative, evidence-based approaches that improve outcomes for children.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
In this role, you’ll take the lead in driving forward contextual safeguarding practice across the service, supporting both practitioners and partners to think differently about risk and intervention.
You will:
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Champion and embed contextual safeguarding approaches across the service
- Lead on assessments of extra-familial contexts, including peer groups, schools, neighbourhoods and online environments
- Develop and oversee Context Plans, ensuring actions are clearly allocated, implemented, and reviewed
- Work closely with partners such as schools, police, community safety teams and the voluntary sector
- Providing specialist advice, consultation and mentoring to social workers and practitioners
- Supporting and influencing multi-agency meetings and operational forums
- Deputising for the Team Manager in delegated areas when required
- Using analytical tools such as peer mapping and hotspot analysis to inform interventions
- Promoting trauma-informed and restorative approaches in all areas of work
- Supporting learning, reflection and audit activity to embed best practice across the team
About you
We’re looking for an experienced and confident Social Worker who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and tackling extra-familial harm.
You’ll be a strong practitioner with the ability to influence others, build effective partnerships, and drive improvements in practice.
You will:
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Hold a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
- Have strong post-qualification experience within children’s services
- Bring experience of working with children at risk of extra-familial harm
- Be confident working across multi-agency safeguarding partnerships
You’ll also demonstrate:
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Strong analytical and assessment skills
- The ability to support, mentor and influence others
- Excellent communication and professional judgement
In addition, you’ll be resilient, reflective and committed to trauma-informed, restorative, and inclusive practice.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
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Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
- Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact
[email protected]
Closing Date: Sunday 28th June 2026
Interview Date: To be Confirmed
Interview Process: To be Confirmed
