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- Tasks: Support and safeguard children and adolescents in high-risk situations.
- Company: Join a dedicated team focused on making a difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and collaboration across agencies.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by advocating for children's rights and improving their outcomes.
- Qualifications: Social Work Degree or equivalent, with registration and enhanced DBS check.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Safeguarding & Risk Management: Skilled in identifying and managing risk for children and adolescents, including exploitation, missing episodes, contextual risks and complex family dynamics.
Assessment Expertise: Experienced in completing high-quality Child & Family Assessments, risk assessments and LAC reviews, with strong analytical and planning skills.
Adolescent-Focused Practice: Confident engaging young people affected by trauma, exploitation, harmful behaviours or peer/group influences, using relational and strengths-based practice.
LAC Knowledge: Strong understanding of care planning, placement stability, pathway planning and improving outcomes for children in care.
Multi-Agency Working: Works effectively with police, health, education, youth justice and voluntary services to coordinate safeguarding and support.
Communication & Engagement: Builds trust with young people, families and carers. Skilled in explaining processes, managing difficult conversations and keeping the child's voice central.
Advocacy & Inclusion: Champions children's rights, challenges inequality, and works sensitively with diverse cultures, identities and needs.
Case Management & Recording: Manages varied caseloads, writes high-quality reports, meets statutory deadlines and maintains clear, accurate records.
Crisis Response: Able to respond quickly to escalating risk, missing incidents, placement instability or exploitation concerns with effective safety planning.
Team Contribution: Strong relationship builder; supports colleagues through joint work, reflection and professional curiosity.
Required Qualifications
- Social Work Degree (BA/MA/BSc/MSW) or equivalent qualified status (e.g., Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), CQSW).
- Registration with Social Work England.
- Enhanced DBS check (children's workforce).
- Continued professional development in areas such as: child protection, contextual safeguarding, exploitation (CSE/CCE), trauma-informed practice, court skills (for LAC and safeguarding roles).
Required Experience
- Working with children, young people and families in statutory or high-risk settings.
- Completing Child & Family Assessments, risk assessments, and safety plans.
- Managing safeguarding cases, including Section 17/47 work.
- Experience with adolescents at risk, including exploitation, missing episodes or complex behaviours.
- Supporting children in care, placements and pathway planning.
- Working in multi-agency environments (schools, police, youth justice, health etc.).
- Producing high-quality written reports, including court statements (role dependent).
- Managing competing demands within a busy caseload.
Essential Skills & Competencies
- Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
- Ability to analyse information, assess risk and make sound decisions.
- Confident working with challenging situations or resistant young people.
- Trauma-informed and relationship-based practice.
- Excellent communication, organisation and time-management skills.
- Ability to remain calm and professional during crisis situations.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Digital literacy (case management systems, reporting tools, recording).
QUALIFIED Children's Social Worker employer: Hertfordshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Hertfordshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land QUALIFIED Children's Social Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in social work, attend local events, and join online forums. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about job openings before they even hit the market.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to safeguarding and risk management. We recommend role-playing with a friend or mentor to build your confidence and refine your responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills in multi-agency working during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've collaborated with other professionals to support children and families. This will highlight your teamwork abilities and commitment to safeguarding.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s super easy and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing passionate candidates who are ready to make a difference in children's lives.
We think you need these skills to ace QUALIFIED Children's Social Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in safeguarding and working with children. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in risk management and assessment, as these are key areas for us.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since communication is crucial in this role, demonstrate your ability to engage with young people and families. Share instances where you've successfully navigated difficult conversations or built trust with clients.
Highlight Multi-Agency Experience: We value collaboration, so mention any experience you have working with other agencies like health, education, or youth justice. This shows you can coordinate effectively and support children in a holistic way.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal: While we want to see your professional qualifications and experience, don’t forget to let your personality shine through. A genuine passion for advocating for children's rights and improving their outcomes will make your application stand out.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hertfordshire County Council
✨Know Your Safeguarding Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. Be ready to discuss how you've identified and managed risks in past roles, especially with children and adolescents. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but can apply it in real-life situations.
✨Showcase Your Assessment Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience with Child & Family Assessments and risk assessments. Bring examples of high-quality reports you've written and be ready to explain your analytical process. This will demonstrate your ability to assess complex family dynamics and make sound decisions.
✨Engage with Empathy
Since this role involves working closely with young people affected by trauma, practice how you would engage them in conversation. Think of ways to build trust and communicate effectively, especially during difficult discussions. Highlight your strengths-based approach and how you keep the child's voice central.
✨Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Be prepared to discuss your experience in multi-agency environments. Share examples of how you've collaborated with police, health services, and education to coordinate support for children. This will show that you understand the importance of teamwork in safeguarding and can contribute positively to a team dynamic.