Experienced Social Worker – Children’s Services
Swindon Borough Council
Level: CFL 10
Ribble are assisting with this recruitment
Are you an experienced Children’s Social Worker ready to take on complex work?
Ribble are assisting Swindon Borough Council to recruit an Experienced Social Worker for their Children’s Services team. You will hold a complex caseload, work with high levels of need and risk, and play a key role in keeping children safe while supporting families to make positive change.
This is a role for a confident, analytical practitioner who can manage multi-faceted cases, produce high-quality assessments and reports, and represent the Council effectively in multi-agency and court settings.
The Role
You will work independently with children, young people and families who have high levels of need and risk. Using the Family Safeguarding model, you will carry out in-depth assessments, develop SMART child-centred plans, and manage complex situations involving harm, neglect, exploitation and parental capacity to change.
You will chair meetings, contribute to Child Protection Conferences and Looked After Child reviews, write court reports and give evidence when required. You will also support less experienced colleagues, including acting as a formal assessor for ASYE social workers.
Key Responsibilities
- Hold and effectively manage a complex, multi-faceted caseload
- Carry out thorough assessments of need and risk, with a strong focus on parental capacity and ability to change
- Recognise and respond to all forms of harm, including physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect and exploitation
- Develop and drive SMART, child-centred plans that enable families and partners to measure progress
- Attend and contribute to Section 47 strategy meetings
- Write high-quality reports for court and present evidence (including in the High Court or Court of Protection where required)
- Work collaboratively with partner agencies (health, police and others)
- Maintain accurate, timely recording on the Council’s IT systems
- Support and mentor junior colleagues, including ASYE assessor responsibilities
- Contribute to team and service development, sharing knowledge and modelling high practice standards
Essential Requirements
- Qualified Social Worker (Degree level) with Social Work England registration
- Minimum of 2 years’ post-qualification experience in a statutory children’s setting
- Proven experience of managing complex child protection and high-risk cases
- Strong assessment, analysis and report-writing skills
- Experience of court work and giving evidence
- Ability to work independently while using supervision effectively
- Excellent communication and inter-personal skills
- Good IT skills and experience of case management systems
- Enhanced DBS
- Fluent in English (as required for a client-facing role)
Desirable
- Practice Educator qualification (or willingness to train)
- Post-qualifying awards in a relevant area
Why This Role?
- Opportunity to do meaningful, high-impact work with children and families
- Supportive supervision and clear performance framework
- Chance to develop specialist areas of practice
- Ribble are assisting throughout the recruitment process
How to Apply
Please send your CV and a supporting statement outlining your relevant experience to:
Lewis Ashcroft
[email protected]
RibRec
Pay: £42.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
