Sheldon Phillips are working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Children's Services to recruit experienced Family Help Social Workers to join their innovative and highly regarded Family Help Service.
Rated 'Good' by Ofsted, Blackburn with Darwen has been at the forefront of children's social care reform, introducing its Family Help model two years ahead of the national rollout. This forward-thinking approach has transformed how families receive support, creating a preventative, relationship-based service that has already contributed to a 25% reduction in families escalating to Child Protection or Pre-Proceedings.
This is an excellent opportunity for experienced safeguarding practitioners who enjoy completing high-quality assessments while building meaningful relationships with children and families through longer-term Child in Need and Child Protection work.
Role Overview
As a Family Help Social Worker, you will undertake single assessments while managing a varied caseload of complex Child in Need and Child Protection cases. Working within a locality-based team, you'll collaborate closely with Family Help Lead Practitioners and a wide range of multi-agency professionals to deliver timely, child-centred interventions that prevent escalation wherever possible.
The service operates a hybrid working model, with a minimum expectation of three office-based days per week, alongside flexible home working in line with service requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Complete high-quality Single Assessments to identify children's needs and risks.
Manage a complex caseload of Child in Need and Child Protection plans.
Build effective relationships with children, young people and their families to achieve positive outcomes.
Undertake direct work with children, ensuring their voices remain central to assessment and planning.
Produce clear, analytical assessments, plans and reports within statutory timescales.
Work collaboratively with partner agencies including education, health, police and specialist services.
Participate in the locality duty rota, responding to new referrals and safeguarding concerns.
Attend strategy discussions, multi-agency meetings, Child Protection Conferences and Core Groups.
Maintain accurate and timely case recordings using Liquidlogic Children's System.
Contribute to a supportive team culture focused on preventative, strengths-based practice.
Why Blackburn with Darwen?
Blackburn with Darwen has completely redesigned its frontline children's services around locality-based Family Help Teams, replacing traditional Assessment and Safarding structures with a more integrated and preventative approach.
Social Workers benefit from:
A progressive authority leading national social care reform.
Ofsted-rated Good Children's Services.
Multi-Agency Protection and Prevention Teams (MAPPTs) bringing together Police, Health, Education and Psychology professionals to support frontline decision-making.
Family Hubs offering immediate access to mental health, substance misuse and wider family support services without lengthy referral processes.
Manageable duty arrangements, with each locality typically receiving around five children per week during duty.
Average caseloads generally ranging between 14-25 children, with 25 being the preferred maximum.
Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working and consideration of condensed or part-time hours.
Supportive management and collaborative locality teams where practitioners work together to achieve the best outcomes for children.
Requirements
Social Work England registration.
Qualified Social Worker (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
Minimum of 3 years' post-qualified experience within children's social work.
Strong background in Assessment, Child in Need and Child Protection work.
Excellent assessment, risk analysis and relationship-based practice skills.
Experience managing complex safeguarding cases.
Previous experience using Liquidlogic Children's System is desirable.
Full UK driving licence is preferred, although applications from non-drivers will be considered on an individual basis.
Strong communication, organisational and time management skills with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Interested?
If you're an experienced Children's Social Worker looking to join an authority that is genuinely leading the way in Family Help and preventative practice, we'd love to hear from you.
Emily Cooper
Recruitment Consultant at Sheldon Phillips
(phone number removed)
Salary description
£39.00 - £39.00 per hour