Children in care, care leavers team in Newcastle upon Tyne

Job Title: Social Worker / Senior Social Worker - Children in Care & Care Leavers Team

Organisation: Newcastle City Council

Pay Rate: £36.61 per hour

Working Pattern: Hybrid (split between home working and office/site base in Newcastle upon Tyne)

Employment Type: Temporary / Locum Contract

About the Role

Newcastle City Council is looking for a dedicated and skilled practitioner to join our Children in Care & Care Leavers Team. In this role, you will work closely with children living in care and young people transitioning into adulthood, ensuring they receive the support, guidance, and stability needed to achieve safe, fulfilling, and independent futures.

This position operates on a hybrid working model, offering flexibility to work remotely alongside necessary face-to-face visits, court attendances, and office days in Newcastle.

Key Responsibilities

• Case Management: Hold and manage a caseload of children in care and young care leavers, completing statutory visits, pathway plans, and child-in-care reviews in line with local and national standards.

• Transition Planning: Work proactively with care leavers aged 16-25 to develop robust, personalised Pathway Plans covering housing, education, employment, financial literacy, and personal wellbeing.

• Advocacy & Support: Act as a strong advocate for young people, helping them navigate independent living and supporting their access to housing, training, and healthcare services.

• Multi-Agency Collaboration: Partner with foster carers, residential teams, personal advisers (PAs), health professionals, schools, and housing providers to deliver holistic support.

• Court & Care Proceedings: Prepare comprehensive court reports, attend court hearings, and present clear assessments where statutory intervention or legal processes are required.

• Record Keeping: Maintain clear, precise, and up-to-date case records and assessment data on the council's social care database.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Qualification: Professional Degree/Diploma in Social Work (BA, BSc, MA, DipSW, or equivalent).

• Registration: Active registration with Social Work England.

• Experience: Post-qualification experience in Children's Social Care, specifically working within Looked After Children (LAC), Children in Care, or Care Leavers services.

• Knowledge: Sound understanding of the Children Act 1989/2004, Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Keep Caring for Children Act, and statutory guidance for care-experienced young people.

• Skills: Excellent relationship-building skills with young people, robust risk management abilities, and strong written/verbal communication skills.

• Compliance: Enhanced DBS check (registered on the update service) and a valid UK driving licence with access to a vehicle for business travel.

Benefits

• Competitive hourly pay rate of £36.61/hr.

• Flexible hybrid working pattern balancing remote work and client visits.

• Supportive team environment dedicated to positive outcomes for young people.

Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.

Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.