Social Worker

Make a Lasting Difference for Young People in Care

Are you a passionate and resilient Social Worker who believes in the power of relationships to change lives?

We are looking for a dedicated Social Worker to join our Looked After Service, working with young people aged 14–18 who are navigating some of the most important and challenging years of their lives. This is an exciting opportunity to support young people in care as they build resilience, manage risk, strengthen relationships, and prepare for adulthood.

Working within a busy and supportive team, you will combine relationship-based practice with robust risk management and safety planning to help young people achieve positive outcomes and stay safe in increasingly complex environments.

About the Role

As a Social Worker within our Young Persons Team, you will hold a caseload of children in care aged 14–18, supporting them through adolescence and into adulthood.

You will work closely with young people, families, carers, and partner agencies to develop and deliver effective care plans that promote safety, stability, independence, and aspiration. The role requires confidence in managing complex safeguarding concerns, including contextual risks such as exploitation, missing episodes, peer influence, community harm, and mental health challenges.

At the heart of this role is a commitment to relational practice—building trusted, consistent relationships with young people and using those relationships as a foundation for engagement, intervention, and positive change.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Managing a caseload of looked after young people aged 14–18.
• Developing and reviewing high-quality care plans informed by risk assessment and safety planning.
• Building strong, trusting relationships with young people using a trauma-informed and relationship-based approach.
• Supporting young people to understand risk, make informed decisions, and develop resilience and independence.
• Leading on safeguarding, risk management, and safety planning in response to complex vulnerabilities.
• Applying contextual safeguarding approaches to address risks beyond the family home, including peer, community, and online influences.
• Completing statutory visits, assessments, reviews, and reports within required timescales.
• Supporting education, training, employment, and positive future planning.
• Working collaboratively with families, carers, and wider support networks.
• Leading pathway planning and supporting young people as they transition towards adulthood.
• Working effectively with multi-agency partners including education, health, police, youth justice, and residential providers.
• Maintaining accurate, analytical, and timely case recordings and reports.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

Essential

• A qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experienced in working with adolescents and young people facing complex challenges.
• Skilled in risk assessment, risk management, and safety planning.
• Knowledgeable about contextual safeguarding and exploitation risks.
• Able to work confidently within a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• An effective communicator with strong assessment and report-writing skills.
• Committed to relationship-based and trauma-informed practice.
• Experienced in multi-agency partnership working.

Personal Qualities

• Resilient, reflective, and emotionally intelligent.
• Passionate about improving outcomes for young people in care.
• Confident in making sound professional decisions in complex situations.
• Able to balance support, challenge, and safeguarding responsibilities.
• A positive team player who contributes to a collaborative and supportive culture.

What We Offer

• A supportive and experienced management team.
• Regular supervision and opportunities for reflective practice.
• Ongoing professional development and training.
• A collaborative team culture focused on achieving the best outcomes for young people.
• Opportunities to develop expertise in adolescent safeguarding, contextual safeguarding, and transition planning.
• The chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people preparing for adulthood.

Join Us

This is a rewarding opportunity to work with young people at a pivotal stage in their lives. If you are passionate about relationship-based practice, skilled in managing complexity and risk, and committed to helping young people achieve their potential, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape brighter futures for children in care.

This version is written to attract experienced social workers while highlighting the team’s focus on relational practice, contextual safeguarding, risk management, and supporting young people through transition to adulthood.