Social Worker

Customer: Nottinghamshire County Council
Service Area: SWS – District Child Protection, Court & Permanence
Job Title: Social Worker
Department: Children's Social Care

Job Purpose

To work directly with children, young people and their families to assess needs, identify risks, safeguard children and promote positive outcomes. The postholder will deliver high-quality, child-centred and strengths-based social work practice, ensuring that children receive appropriate support, protection and intervention to improve their safety, welfare and overall wellbeing.

The Social Worker will undertake assessments, develop and review care and support plans, carry out statutory visits, and work collaboratively with families and partner agencies. The role will also involve contributing to child protection procedures, court proceedings, permanence planning and other statutory responsibilities in accordance with relevant legislation, local authority policies and Social Work England professional standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive assessments of children and families, identifying needs, strengths, vulnerabilities and potential safeguarding risks.

• Complete direct work with children and young people to understand their wishes, feelings and lived experiences.

• Undertake statutory visits and maintain regular contact with children and families in accordance with statutory requirements.

• Develop, implement, monitor and review effective plans to safeguard children and promote positive outcomes.

• Manage a varied caseload, ensuring that cases are progressed effectively and within required timescales.

• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, undertaking necessary enquiries and interventions to protect children from harm.

• Contribute to Child Protection Conferences, Core Groups, Child in Need meetings, Looked After Children reviews and care planning meetings.

• Prepare high-quality assessments, case recordings, reports, statements and court documentation within required deadlines.

• Support children and families through care proceedings, permanence planning and other statutory processes where required.

• Work collaboratively with parents, carers, schools, health professionals, police and other relevant partner agencies.

• Promote family participation and ensure that children and young people's voices remain central to all decision-making.

• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive case records in line with organisational policies and professional standards.

• Identify and respond to changes in family circumstances, reassessing risks and adapting intervention plans accordingly.

• Participate in regular supervision, team meetings, training and professional development activities.

• Work in accordance with relevant legislation, statutory guidance, local procedures and Social Work England professional standards.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Recognised Social Work qualification (Degree in Social Work, DipSW or equivalent).

• Current registration with Social Work England.

• Experience of working with children, young people and families within a statutory or relevant social care setting.

• Knowledge and understanding of child protection, safeguarding and children's social care legislation.

• Experience of undertaking assessments, managing risk and developing effective care and support plans.

• Ability to undertake direct work with children and families using a child-centred and strengths-based approach.

• Good understanding of statutory processes, including Child Protection, Child in Need and care planning.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare professional reports and court documentation.

• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and maintain accurate case records.

• Ability to work effectively with multi-agency professionals and build positive working relationships with families.

Key Competencies

• Child-centred practice: Ensuring children's wishes, feelings, safety and wellbeing remain at the heart of all decisions.

• Safeguarding and risk management: Ability to identify, assess and respond effectively to safeguarding concerns.

• Communication and relationship building: Establishing effective relationships with children, families, carers and partner agencies.

• Professional judgement: Making informed, evidence-based decisions while managing complex and challenging situations.

• Organisation and time management: Managing a caseload effectively and meeting statutory and organisational deadlines.

• Resilience and accountability: Demonstrating professionalism, adaptability and responsibility in a demanding social work environment.

• Partnership working: Working collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies to achieve the best outcomes for children.