Senior Social Worker - Assessment

Position: Senior Social Worker
Team: Duty and Assessment
Contract: Locum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Pay Rate: £33.30 per hour
Location: Lichfield, Staffordshire (free on-site parking)

Sheldon Phillips are working with Staffordshire County Council to source an experienced Senior Social Worker for their Duty and Assessment Team in Lichfield. This service manages short-term, front-door intervention work, completing timely assessments, managing risk, and ensuring swift, safe decision-making for children and families. The team is well-established, offers free parking on site, and provides a supportive environment for experienced practitioners.

What You Can Expect:

  • Fast-paced, frontline assessment work with clear structures and expectations

  • Office base with free parking and good hybrid flexibility

  • Supportive team manager and stable, experienced colleagues

  • Clear processes for duty weeks and manageable caseload expectations

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Undertake Child & Family Assessments under Sections 17 and 47

  • Respond to duty referrals, complete triage, and manage immediate safeguarding concerns

  • Attend and contribute to strategy discussions, ICPCs, and core groups

  • Complete direct work with children and coordinate multi-agency involvement

  • Prepare high-quality reports and escalate cases appropriately

  • Manage risk confidently within statutory timescales and recording standards

Requirements:

  • SWE Registration

  • Social Work qualification

  • Strong post-qualified experience in Duty, Assessment, MASH, or similar frontline teams

  • Confident safeguarding and S47 enquiry skills

  • Experience working within multi-agency frameworks and making defensible decisions

  • Flexible, proactive approach with strong communication skills

If you’re an experienced assessment practitioner looking for a stable team, clear structures, and reliable support, we’d love to discuss this role with you.