Social Worker

Social Worker | Children with Complex Needs | Oldham Council | £39 per Hour

Sheldon Phillips are working in partnership with Oldham Council to recruit an experienced Social Worker to join their Children with Complex Needs Team. This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established, supportive, and highly regarded service within an Ofsted-rated Good local authority. The team works with children and young people with additional and complex needs across a wide range of statutory responsibilities, offering social workers the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge while maintaining a varied and rewarding caseload.

Role Overview

The Children with Complex Needs Team is a generic service supporting children and young people with disabilities, additional needs, and complex circumstances. Social Workers manage cases across the continuum of need, from Child in Need and Child Protection through to Court proceedings, Looked After Children, Adoption, and Transition Planning into Adult Services.

This role offers the opportunity to further develop specialist skills in areas including Mental Capacity Assessments, Best Interest Meetings, Court of Protection applications, and Inherent Jurisdiction work. The team adopts a systemic approach to practice and is committed to achieving positive outcomes for children, young people, and their families.

Key Responsibilities

  • Manage a diverse caseload involving children and young people with additional and complex needs.
  • Undertake Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children, and Care Proceedings work.
  • Complete assessments, care planning, reviews, and statutory visits in line with legislation and local procedures.
  • Carry out safeguarding investigations and interventions to ensure children remain safe and achieve positive outcomes.
  • Work with families requiring support through Public Law Outline (PLO) processes and court proceedings.
  • Undertake Mental Capacity Assessments and contribute to Best Interest Meetings where required.
  • Support applications relating to the Court of Protection and Inherent Jurisdiction processes.
  • Complete carers' assessments and coordinate packages of support and respite care.
  • Build effective relationships with children and young people using a range of communication methods, including creative and non-verbal communication techniques.
  • Lead transition planning for young people moving into Adult Social Care services.
  • Work collaboratively with education, health, adult services, and other partner agencies to deliver coordinated support plans.
  • Maintain accurate and timely case recordings, assessments, and reports.

Benefits

  • £39 per hour pay rate.
  • 36.66-hour working week.
  • Opportunity to gain specialist experience in disability and complex needs social work.
  • Exposure to Mental Capacity, Court of Protection, and transition planning work.
  • Supportive and experienced management team.
  • Established and friendly team culture.
  • Systemic practice model embedded throughout the service.
  • Ofsted-rated Good authority.
  • Flexible and varied caseload providing excellent professional development opportunities.
  • A welcoming office environment with a strong team ethos.

Requirements

  • Social Work qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
  • Registration with Social Work England.
  • Minimum of 3 years post-qualified social work experience.
  • Experience within Children's Services, including safeguarding and looked after children processes.
  • Knowledge of Child in Need, Child Protection, PLO, Court, and Care Planning processes.
  • Ability to undertake complex assessments and formulate effective intervention plans.
  • Experience working collaboratively within multi-agency environments.
  • Strong assessment, analytical, and report-writing skills.
  • Ability to engage effectively with children and young people who have additional communication needs.
  • Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle preferred.

Interested?

If you're an experienced Social Worker looking to develop specialist expertise within a highly supportive Children with Complex Needs Team, we'd love to hear from you.

Emily Cooper - Recruitment Consultant at Sheldon Phillips
07745 200325 | ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com