At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in care through effective care planning and relationship building.
- Company: Leeds City Council, a child-centred local authority with strong management support.
- Benefits: Competitive pay of £30.74 per hour and ongoing locum contract.
- Other info: Join a well-resourced team and collaborate with various professionals for meaningful outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people in care.
- Qualifications: Active registration with Social Work England and experience in Children's Services.
The predicted salary is between 30.74 - 30.74 £ per hour.
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Authority: Leeds City Council
Pay Rate: £30.74 per hour (Umbrella)
Contract: Full-Time (Ongoing locum contract)
Sector: Children's Services / Looked After Children (CLA / LAC)
Are you a dedicated Children's Social Worker passionate about delivering relational, high-quality care planning for children in care? Leeds City Council is currently recruiting two experienced Social Workers to join their Child Looked After (CLA) Teams. Offering a pay rate of £30.74 per hour, these roles focus on supporting children and young people living in foster care, residential placements, or kinship arrangements across Leeds, ensuring their safety, well-being, and permanent outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Statutory Care Planning: Manage a caseload of Looked After Children, holding full statutory responsibility for care reviews, PEPs, pathway planning, and health assessments.
- Relational Direct Work: Build strong, trusted relationships with children and young people to ensure their voices directly inform their care plans.
- Placement & Permanence: Work collaboratively with foster carers, residential staff, and birth families to maintain placement stability and achieve timely permanence.
- Multi-Agency Collaboration: Partner effectively with Virtual Schools, health professionals, independent reviewing officers (IROs), and leaving care services.
What We Are Looking For:
- Professional Registration: Active registration with Social Work England (SWE).
- Core Competencies: Proven post-qualifying experience in statutory Children's Services, ideally within a Looked After Children (LAC/CLA) or permanency team.
- Key Skills: Strong direct work capabilities, robust analytical report writing, and deep knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and care planning regulations.
Why Apply?
- Established Local Authority: Practice within an innovative, child-centred council with strong management support.
- Double Vacancy: Great opportunity to start alongside a colleague or join a well-resourced team cohort.
- Meaningful Practice: Focus on long-term outcomes, placement stability, and child-led advocacy.
Child Looked After Team in Leeds employer: Randstad
Leeds City Council is an exceptional employer for Children's Social Workers, offering a supportive and innovative work environment dedicated to the well-being of children in care. With a focus on meaningful practice and strong management support, employees have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young people while benefiting from ongoing professional development and collaboration with various agencies. Located in Leeds, this role provides a chance to work within a vibrant community committed to child-centred care and advocacy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Child Looked After Team in Leeds
✨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 Randstad.
✨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 Randstad!
✨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 Randstad, 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 Randstad 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 Child Looked After Team in Leeds
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 Randstad:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Randstad! 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 Randstad
✨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.
