Social Worker - PLO & Court

Level 2 - Band 10:
Starting salary of £45,529

Level 3 - Band 11:
Starting salary of £49,817

Pro rata for part-time colleagues.

Are you an experienced Children's Social Worker with a strong safeguarding background and the confidence to manage complex pre-proceedings and court-related work?

We're recruiting Children's Social Workers at Level 2 and Level 3 to join specialist PLO & Court Teams within a supportive local authority on the South Coast.

This is an opportunity to work with families where concerns for a child's safety may meet the threshold for legal action. You'll provide purposeful, analytical and relationship-based Social Work, helping families make sustainable changes wherever possible while ensuring timely and robust plans are made when children need protection.

You’ll manage complex cases during the pre-proceedings stage, working closely with children, parents, wider family networks and partner agencies.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing complex safeguarding casework within the Public Law Outline process
• Undertaking high-quality assessments, risk analysis and care planning
• Working with families affected by domestic abuse, adult mental health needs and substance misuse
• Leading purposeful direct work with children and parents
• Preparing clear, evidence-based reports and recommendations for legal processes
• Working collaboratively with legal colleagues, Children in Care teams, adoption services and multi-agency partners
• Supporting timely permanency planning, including where children cannot safely remain at home
• Mentoring less experienced colleagues and students at Level 3
• Contributing to a reflective, supportive and high-performing team culture

To be successful, you'll bring:

• Significant frontline safeguarding Social Work experience
• Confidence managing complex children's statutory casework
• Experience of, or a strong interest in, pre-proceedings and court work
• Excellent analytical skills and sound professional judgement
• The ability to build constructive working relationships while providing clear professional challenge
• Strong written communication skills, including report writing
• Resilience, organisation and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Experience mentoring colleagues or students, or willingness to undertake Practice Education training
• Social Work England registration
• The ability to travel across the local area

• Starting salary of £45,529 at Level 2 or £49,817 at Level 3
• Permanent full-time and part-time opportunities
• Full induction and Practice Fundamentals support
• Manageable caseloads and regular supervision
• Clear progression pathways and excellent professional development opportunities
• 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing after two years' continuous service
• Flexible working arrangements
• Modern, refurbished office spaces
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff network groups and an inclusive working environment
• Relocation support, subject to approval

This is a great opportunity for an ambitious Social Worker to develop specialist expertise in PLO and court work while making a real difference for children and families on the South Coast.