Children’s Social Worker – MASH – EK in Colwyn Bay

Children's Social Worker - MASH

Location: Conwy, North Wales
Employer: Conwy County Borough Council
Job Type: Temporary / Agency
Specialisms: Children's Safeguarding, Child Protection, MASH, Duty & Assessment

The Role

Conwy County Borough Council is looking for an experienced and committed Children's Social Worker to join its Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified Social Worker with experience in Children's Services, safeguarding and child protection to play a key role in protecting vulnerable children and supporting families.

You will be responsible for responding to referrals concerning children and families who may have additional care and support needs or who could be at risk of harm or significant harm. You will assess safeguarding concerns, gather and analyse information, identify potential risks and make informed decisions about the most appropriate interventions to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

Working within a fast-paced, multi-agency environment, you will collaborate closely with colleagues and external professionals, including the police, health services, education, youth justice and voluntary sector organisations.

The successful candidate will use professional judgement, evidence-based practice and a child-centred approach to ensure that children's voices, safety and wellbeing remain at the heart of every decision.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive, screen and assess referrals relating to children and families with care and support needs or potential safeguarding concerns.
• Identify and respond to concerns involving child protection, neglect, domestic abuse, child sexual abuse and child exploitation.
• Undertake timely risk assessments and make proportionate decisions regarding safeguarding concerns.
• Determine appropriate referral outcomes, including progression to further assessment or Section 47 child protection enquiries where required.
• Gather, share and analyse information from children, families and relevant professionals to support effective safeguarding decisions.
• Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners, including police, health professionals, schools, education services and other children's services teams.
• Participate in strategy discussions, child protection meetings and other relevant safeguarding forums.
• Prepare accurate, analytical and evidence-based reports, assessments and case records.
• Build positive working relationships with children, families and carers, ensuring their views and experiences are considered throughout the decision-making process.
• Apply strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches to support children and families and promote positive outcomes.
• Manage a high-volume workload, ensuring referrals, communications and safeguarding tasks are progressed within statutory timescales.
• Identify and elevate significant safeguarding concerns to the Team Manager or Section Manager when necessary.
• Contribute to duty arrangements and provide support to the wider safeguarding service when required.

Areas of Specialist Safeguarding

The team deals with a range of complex safeguarding concerns, including:

Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

• Identifying signs of grooming, coercion, county lines, gang involvement and exploitation.
• Assessing risks beyond the family home and within the wider community.
• Working with partner agencies to disrupt exploitation and protect vulnerable children.

Child Neglect

• Identifying indicators of neglect and assessing the impact on children's development and wellbeing.
• Working with families to encourage positive and sustainable changes.
• Developing appropriate safeguarding and support plans.

Domestic Abuse

• Assessing the impact of domestic abuse on children and families.
• Identifying safeguarding risks and working with specialist support services.
• Prioritising the safety and welfare of children and non-abusive parents or carers.

Child Sexual Abuse

• Recognising indicators of sexual abuse and potential harm.
• Undertaking sensitive, child-focused assessments.
• Working alongside partner agencies to ensure appropriate safeguarding responses.

Essential Requirements

To be considered for this position, candidates should have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree in Social Work, MA Social Work, CQSW or equivalent).
• Current registration with Social Care Wales.
• Previous experience working within Children's Social Services.
• Strong knowledge of child protection and safeguarding procedures.
• Experience undertaking risk assessments, referral screening and safeguarding interventions.
• Knowledge and understanding of Section 47 child protection enquiries.
• Understanding of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and relevant Welsh safeguarding legislation and guidance.
• Experience working collaboratively with multi-agency professionals.
• Excellent communication, analytical and report-writing skills.
• The ability to manage a demanding workload and prioritise competing deadlines.
• A commitment to child-centred, anti-discriminatory and strengths-based social work practice.

Previous experience working within a MASH, Front Door, Duty and Assessment or Children's Safeguarding team would be highly advantageous.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking a confident, proactive and dedicated Social Worker who can make sound professional decisions in challenging situations.

You should be comfortable managing sensitive safeguarding concerns, communicating effectively with families and professionals, and working within a fast-paced environment where decisions can have a significant impact on children's lives.

You will demonstrate resilience, strong professional judgement and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.

#J-18808-Ljbffr