About the Role
Suffolk County Council are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Social Worker to join the Social Care Team based in Stowmarket. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dedicated Children's Social Care within a fast-paced and rewarding service supporting children and families across a range of statutory social work functions, including Child in Need, Looked After Children, Child Assessment, and Support & Prevention. As a Senior Social Worker, you will manage a complex caseload while providing high-quality interventions that safeguard children, reduce risk, and improve outcomes for children and their families.
Location: 127 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, IP14 1BB
Rate: £40.50 per hour
Contract: Temporary
Hours: 37 hours per week, condensed hours over 4 days are acceptable.
Office Requirements: 3 days per week office-based
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a complex social work caseload, currently averaging approximately 40 cases.
- Make and implement autonomous professional decisions in cases involving high levels of complexity, risk, uncertainty, and challenge, with management oversight where required.
- Complete assessments of risk and need and develop effective plans to improve outcomes for children and families.
- Deliver targeted interventions that address identified needs and reduce safeguarding concerns.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with partner agencies to coordinate services and support.
- Lead and undertake Section 47 Child Protection investigations, ensuring timely and thorough enquiries where significant harm is suspected.
- Prepare high-quality reports, assessments, and court documents that are analytical, evidence-based, and outcome-focused.
- Participate effectively in multi-agency meetings, statutory reviews, conferences, and legal proceedings.
- Support and contribute to the development of colleagues and promote reflective social work practice.
About You
- Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
- Significant experience working within Children's Social Care.
- Proven ability to manage a complex caseload involving children and families.
- Experience undertaking Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children, and Assessment work.
- Strong assessment, analysis, and decision-making skills.
- Experience designing and implementing effective interventions that achieve positive outcomes.
- Ability to complete high-quality assessments and reports to a consistently high standard.
- Confident presenting complex and sensitive information within multi-agency and legal settings.
- Experience supporting, mentoring, or supervising colleagues to promote high standards of practice.
- Excellent knowledge of children's safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure while maintaining high-quality practice.
- Commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families.
If you are an experienced Senior Social Worker looking for your next challenge and are passionate about delivering outstanding outcomes for children and families, we would love to hear from you.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. A DBS check may be applicable for this role, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.
