Senior Social Worker – Children in Care (Court Team) | Wakefield Council

Position: Senior Social Worker
Team: Children in Care (Court Team)
Contract: 3 months+
Hours: 37 hours per week
Pay Rate: £35 per hour
Location: Market Place, WF1 1DF
Start Date: ASAP
Working Pattern: Hybrid – 3 days in office, 2 days remote

Contact: Emily Cooper – 07745200325 | ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com

Sheldon Phillips are working with Wakefield Council to recruit a Senior Social Worker for their Children in Care Court Team. This team works with children subject to care proceedings, focusing on securing permanence and positive outcomes through detailed assessments and robust court work.

What You Can Expect:

• A well-established and supportive team environment

• High-quality supervision and access to specialist support

• Hybrid working pattern – 3 days in the office, 2 remote

• Opportunities to contribute to meaningful permanence planning

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Undertaking a range of assessments to inform permanence, including:

  • Parenting assessments

  • Sibling assessments

  • Viability assessments

  • Special Guardianship Order (SGO) reports

• Writing comprehensive care plans and final court evidence

• Managing cases where children have a plan of adoption

• Attending panels and preparing matching reports

• Liaising with legal services, carers, and other professionals throughout proceedings

Requirements:

• Social Work England registration

• Social Work qualification

• Post-qualified experience in CIC and Court work

• Strong knowledge of permanence planning and adoption processes

• Proven ability to write clear, high-quality reports and court documentation

• Confident, proactive and resilient approach

If you have a passion for court work and permanence planning, and want to be part of a team where your expertise makes a real impact – this is the role for you.

Contact Details: Emily Cooper – 07745200325 | ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com