Social Worker | Contextual Safeguarding

Social Worker | Empower Contextual Safeguarding

Salary: £36,363 - £40,778 per annum |
Fixed Term: Until August 2026 |
Hours: 37 per week |
Location: Lancaster

This role is not open to international sponsorship.

Lancashire County Council Children's Services is a progressive and innovative place to work, embracing relationship‑based practice, strengths‑based approaches and the Family Safeguarding model of practice. The Contextual Safeguarding Team works with young people aged 13 to 18 years who are experiencing exploitation and/or harm outside of the home.

This is an exciting time to join Lancashire’s Contextual Safeguarding Service as we redesign our approach to supporting children who are experiencing extra‑familial harm. By adopting the TCE practice principles and expanding our multi‑disciplinary teams, you can build meaningful relationships with young people, supporting them to achieve positive outcomes in their lives.

The different relationships that children form in their neighbourhoods, schools and online can feature violence and abuse. Parents and carers often have little influence over these contexts of extra familial harm, undermining the parent‑child relationship. The role requires a contextual safeguarding approach to understand and respond to young people’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families. Working in a multi‑agency team, you will build trusted relationships with teenage children and work closely with them and their families to assess risk and formulate plans to support their needs.

This role is well suited to social workers with an interest in adolescents and trauma‑informed practice. We are looking for a dedicated Social Worker who has:

• Recognised Social Work Qualification & Social Work England Registration
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi‑agency team
• Prior experience working with children, young people and their families
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Full UK Drivers Licence and access to your own vehicle

In return for your passion and expertise, we offer a generous benefits package which includes:

• A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions and optional Additional Voluntary Contributions
• 26 days annual leave (rising with length of service), 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and the option to buy additional leave each year
• A staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup allowing discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars

To submit your application, click 'Apply Now' and attach your most recent CV and Supporting Statement. For an informal discussion please contact Team Manager Danielle Thomas‑Riley via email, danielle.th

Closing Date: 01st February 2026
We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your Supporting Statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.

The post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.

You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. You must be registered with Social Work England to be appointed as a Social Worker.