Senior Social Worker - Early Help

CIN Early Help Team | Birmingham Children’s Trust | £33.30 per hour

Birmingham Children’s Trust are looking for an experienced Senior Social Worker to join their CIN Early Help Team on a locum basis. This is a key frontline role focused on working with children and families supported under Section 17, with clear pathways for escalation into Section 47 services where risk increases.

This opportunity would suit a practitioner who is confident in Child in Need planning, skilled in building relationships with families, and able to recognise when concerns need to be stepped up into child protection processes.

Role Overview

As a Senior Social Worker in the CIN Early Help Team, you will work with children and families where there are identified needs requiring statutory intervention under Section 17. You will complete assessments, develop plans, and deliver purposeful intervention to reduce risk and improve outcomes. Where concerns escalate, you will support timely transfer into the Section 47 team to ensure safeguarding action is progressed appropriately.

This team sits within Birmingham’s frontline children’s services and focuses on providing timely and effective support to children and families through Child in Need processes. The role requires strong assessment skills, a clear understanding of thresholds, and the ability to work proactively with families and partner agencies. You will need to balance supportive intervention with robust safeguarding awareness, ensuring that escalating risk is identified early and transferred appropriately to the relevant safeguarding team.

Key responsibilities

  • Manage a caseload of children and families supported under Section 17
  • Complete Child and Family Assessments and develop outcome-focused CIN plans
  • Deliver purposeful intervention to support children’s safety, development, and wellbeing
  • Monitor risk and recognise when cases require escalation into Section 47 processes
  • Progress timely and well-planned transfers to the safeguarding team where threshold is met
  • Work closely with partner agencies including schools, health, and early help services
  • Maintain accurate, analytical case records and reports in line with statutory expectations
  • Contribute to CIN meetings, multi-agency planning, and step-up decision-making
  • Support children and families through clear planning, relationship-based practice, and timely review

Benefits

  • Clear and focused role within a Child in Need and Early Help setting
  • Competitive rate of £33.30 per hour
  • Opportunity to work in a service that balances support and safeguarding
  • Strong statutory experience in Section 17 work and threshold decision-making
  • Chance to make an impact through early intervention and timely escalation where needed

Requirements

  • Social Work England registration
  • Qualified Social Worker status
  • Previous experience in Children in Need, Assessment, or Safeguarding teams
  • Strong understanding of Section 17 and Section 47 thresholds and processes
  • Confidence in managing risk, multi-agency working, and statutory planning
  • Ability to identify escalating concerns and support appropriate transfer pathways
  • Enhanced DBS and full compliance for locum work

Interested?

For more information or to apply, contact:
Emily Cooper - ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com | 07745 200325

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