At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families in need, ensuring safety and meaningful change.
- Company: Caritas Recruitment, dedicated to finding the right fit for you.
- Benefits: Tailored job matching, access to exclusive roles, and supportive onboarding.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with opportunities for growth and impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and experience in Family Help or Child Protection.
The predicted salary is between 34 - 34 € per hour.
We're recruiting an experienced Children's Social Worker to support both short-term and long-term work across Family Help and Child Protection in Gateshead. This is a varied and rewarding post where you'll work directly with children and families to reduce risk, build safety, and achieve meaningful, sustainable change. Some cases may progress into PLO (Public Law Outline), so confidence in robust decision-making and timely planning is important. If you're passionate about purposeful, relationship-based practice and you want a role that genuinely fits your strengths and working style, this could be the opportunity for you.
The Role: What You'll Be Doing
- You'll manage a caseload spanning Family Help and Child Protection, including both short-term intervention and longer-term planning.
- Your work will be focused on ensuring children are safe, supported, and their voices remain central throughout.
- Key responsibilities include:
- Undertaking statutory social work with children and families across Family Help, Child in Need and Child Protection
- Completing high-quality assessments, analysis, safety planning and SMART interventions
- Chairing/attending key multi-agency meetings (strategy discussions, core groups, conferences)
- Delivering direct work with children and families to support change and improve outcomes
- Managing risk effectively and progressing plans with clear timescales and purposeful review
- Contributing to pre-proceedings work and supporting cases that may move into PLO
- Producing clear, evidence-based records and reports to a high standard
What We're Looking For
- Social Work qualification (DipSW/CQSW/BA/MA Social Work)
- Social Work England registration
- Recent experience in Family Help, Child Protection (and ideally some exposure to PLO)
- Confident with assessment, analysis, safeguarding thresholds and multi-agency working
- Able to prioritise, plan and evidence decisions in a busy frontline environment
Why Work With Me (Davina) & Caritas Recruitment?
When you partner with me at Caritas, you get more than a job search - you get a recruitment approach built around finding the role that genuinely works for you. What you can expect:
- Tailored matching: roles aligned to your experience, preferences and working style
- Access to opportunities not on the wider market: I often have vacancies before they're advertised publicly
- Honest, upfront guidance: realistic insight on teams, expectations, interview focus and local market conditions
- Fast, supportive process: smooth onboarding/compliance support and clear communication
- Representation that protects your interests: I'll advocate for what matters to you (role fit, flexibility, start dates)
Whether you're looking for a fresh challenge, better balance, or a team where you can thrive - I'll help you get there.
Social Worker - Family Help & Child Protection | Gateshead employer: Caritas Recruitment
At Caritas Recruitment, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for Social Workers in Gateshead. Our supportive work culture fosters professional growth and development, offering tailored opportunities that align with your strengths and preferences. With a focus on meaningful, relationship-based practice, we ensure that our team members are equipped to make a real difference in the lives of children and families, all while enjoying a smooth onboarding process and ongoing support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Family Help & Child Protection | Gateshead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, attend local events, and join online forums. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about opportunities before they hit the job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions specific to social work. Think about your experiences with Family Help and Child Protection, and be ready to share examples that highlight your skills and decision-making abilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for relationship-based practice during interviews. Talk about how you’ve built trust with families and children in the past, and how you plan to continue doing so in your new role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of tailored opportunities that match your experience and working style. Plus, it’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters who are looking for candidates just like you.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker - Family Help & Child Protection | Gateshead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in Family Help and Child Protection. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant qualifications and experiences!
Showcase Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for social work shine through! We’re looking for someone who’s genuinely passionate about making a difference in children’s lives, so share your motivations and what drives you in this field.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your experiences and achievements, especially when it comes to decision-making and planning.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Caritas Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Family Help and Child Protection. Familiarise yourself with the latest policies, procedures, and best practices in social work. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show your passion for the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that highlight your skills in assessment, analysis, and multi-agency collaboration. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, making it easier for the interviewer to see your impact.
✨Demonstrate Relationship-Building Skills
Since this role is all about relationship-based practice, be ready to discuss how you've built rapport with children and families in the past. Share stories that illustrate your ability to connect and support them through challenging times.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare a few insightful questions to ask at the end of the interview. This could be about the team dynamics, the challenges they face, or how success is measured in the role. It shows you're genuinely interested and engaged in the opportunity.
