At a Glance
- Tasks: Support social workers and families to ensure children feel safe and heard.
- Company: Birmingham Children’s Trust, dedicated to empowering vulnerable children and families.
- Benefits: Generous leave, professional development, flexible working, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Join a team recognised for strong leadership and impactful work.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of Birmingham's most vulnerable children.
- Qualifications: Experience with children or families, strong communication skills, and a full UK driving licence.
The predicted salary is between 24750 - 30250 £ per year.
Do you want a career where you can change lives for the better? At Birmingham Children’s Trust, that’s exactly what we do every single day. We’re here to protect, support and empower some of the city’s most vulnerable children, young people and families. As a Senior Social Work Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in supporting social workers and families, ensuring children feel safe, heard and supported. Your day-to-day work will be varied, but always meaningful. It’s a role full of variety — no two days will ever be the same. But every day, you’ll know your work is helping to create brighter futures.
We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. Be part of a service recognised by Ofsted for strong leadership, safeguarding and partnership working. This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.
What you’ll be doing:
- Be there to help families access the right services by making referrals and signposting.
- Support with Family Time/contact arrangements so children can maintain important relationships.
- Listen to children, capturing their wishes, feelings and views.
- Assist in evidence gathering for child protection planning and legal proceedings.
- Manage the delivery of financial and practical support for children and families.
- Keep our records and IT systems up to date.
- Assist social work teams with transporting CYPF.
- Work alongside passionate, supportive colleagues who care deeply about the difference we make.
About you:
We’re looking for someone who brings kindness, empathy and resilience, alongside the ability to stay professional in challenging situations. You’ll need to have:
- Experience working with children and/or families in a care or support setting.
- A basic knowledge of social work practice and the legal framework for children and families.
- A full UK driving licence, access to your own vehicle, and willingness to obtain business use insurance upon appointment.
- Strong communication skills — both written and verbal as you will be liaising with a diverse range of children and families.
- Confidence in liaising with partner agencies and keeping accurate records.
- Respect for diversity, fairness and inclusion in everything you do.
- Flexibility to work collaboratively with colleagues and other professionals.
- An understanding of social deprivation and its impact on families.
If you’re ready to bring your energy, compassion and commitment to supporting children and families, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and help us make Birmingham a place where every child can thrive!
What we offer:
- Payment of your Social Work England registration fee.
- Payment of your DBS application fee, plus reimbursement of your DBS Update Service subscription.
- A generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days, plus bank holidays, increasing to 33 days after 5 years’ service and 35 days after 10 years’ service.
- An early finish every Friday, helping you make the most of your weekend.
- Access to our Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme, offering the opportunity to drive a brand-new car through an affordable fixed monthly payment, with no deposit or credit checks and a range of all-inclusive driving packages.
- Free on-site parking at our One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley) offices, including free electric vehicle charging points.
- A comprehensive employee benefits package, including Occupational Health services, reward and recognition schemes, employee discounts (including the Blue Light Card), health and fitness offers, wellbeing support, and much more.
- Flexible and hybrid working, with a range of working patterns that support both the needs of the Trust and a healthy work-life balance.
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, providing a generous career average pension.
- Discounted gym memberships with PureGym and Nuffield Health to support your health and wellbeing.
Interview date: 26th November 2026, held onsite at our office at Lifford House.
About Us
Help us to change children and young people’s lives! At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.
Our Values
We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected. We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people. We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.
Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.
Safeguarding
At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people. The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.
We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.
Please note that we reserve the right to close the job early should we reach the required number of applications, therefore please ensure you submit your application and supporting statement early to avoid any disappointment.
Senior Social Work Assistant - Safeguarding employer: Birmingham Children's Trust
Birmingham Children’s Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises the development of its employees. With a strong focus on leadership growth, you will have access to tailored training programmes and mentorship opportunities that empower you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families. The hybrid working model allows for flexibility while being part of a passionate team committed to improving outcomes in the Birmingham community.
Contact Details:
Birmingham Children's Trust Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Work Assistant - Safeguarding
✨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 Birmingham Children's Trust.
✨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 Birmingham Children's Trust!
✨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 Birmingham Children's Trust, 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 Birmingham Children's Trust 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 Senior Social Work Assistant - Safeguarding
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 Birmingham Children's Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Birmingham Children's Trust! 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 Birmingham Children's Trust
✨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.
