At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct timely Section 47 enquiries and make child-focused safeguarding decisions.
- Company: Birmingham Children's Trust, a stable and supportive social care environment.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rate, remote work options, and strong team support.
- Other info: Enjoy a positive work-life balance and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a collaborative team.
- Qualifications: Experienced Senior Social Worker with strong assessment and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 27.89 - 27.89 £ per hour.
Location: 45 Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 3BN, Birmingham Children's Trust
Salary: £27.89 per hour
3 days remote, 2 days in the office
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Social Worker to join our Child Protection Enquiry Team, supporting children and families across the east of Birmingham. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a stable, fully permanent service with a permanent Team Manager, a supportive Senior Practitioner, and a committed team environment.
About the Team:
You will join a well-established Child Protection Enquiry Team made up of six Senior Social Workers, one Senior Practitioner, and one Family Support Worker. The team works closely together to respond to safeguarding concerns, complete timely enquiries, and make clear, child-focused decisions about next steps for children and families.
About the Role:
As a Senior Social Worker in the CP Enquiry Team, your main responsibility will be to undertake Section 47 enquiries and progress them within a five-day turnaround. You will use your professional judgement, safeguarding knowledge, and analytical skills to determine whether cases should progress to an Initial Child Protection Conference, step down to support under Section 17, or be closed where no further statutory intervention is required. The role involves responding to RED strategy discussions, managing step-ups from the Family Help service, and working in partnership with children, families, and multi-agency professionals to assess risk and ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.
Key Responsibilities:
- Undertake timely and proportionate Section 47 enquiries in line with statutory guidance and local procedures.
- Progress enquiries within a five-day turnaround, ensuring management oversight and timely decision-making.
- Assess risk, need, and protective factors for children and families where safeguarding concerns have been identified.
- Make evidence-based recommendations about whether cases should progress to an Initial Child Protection Conference, step down to Section 17 support, or require no further statutory intervention.
- Participate in RED strategy discussions and contribute to clear, child-centred safeguarding decisions.
- Respond to step-ups from Family Help where concerns indicate that a child may require a statutory safeguarding response.
- Work closely with children, parents, carers, wider family networks, and partner agencies to complete thorough and balanced enquiries.
- Maintain high-quality recording, analysis, and planning within required timescales.
- Take part in the team duty cycle, which operates one week in every three.
What We Offer:
This is a manageable and well-supported role within a stable service. You will benefit from a positive work-life balance, a consistent team structure, and clear support from both the Team Manager and Senior Practitioner. Monthly supervision is guaranteed, and you will be part of a team that values reflective practice, professional development, and supportive working relationships. The team primarily covers the east of Birmingham. There may be occasional need to travel outside of patch; however, this is rare. The service is well established, fully permanent, and benefits from stable leadership and a strong team culture.
About You:
You will be an experienced Senior Social Worker who is confident in understanding and analysing risk, particularly where children and families are being considered under a Section 47 threshold. You will be organised, able to work at pace, and confident in making safeguarding decisions within clear timescales. You will have strong assessment, communication, and report-writing skills, and be able to work effectively with children, families, professionals, and partner agencies. You will be child-focused, analytical, resilient, and committed to achieving safe and proportionate outcomes for children and families.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
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✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Allscreens Nationwide Ltd.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Allscreens Nationwide Ltd!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Allscreens Nationwide Ltd, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Allscreens Nationwide Ltd or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Independent Reviewing Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Allscreens Nationwide Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Allscreens Nationwide Ltd! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Allscreens Nationwide Ltd
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
