Social Worker, Child Development​/Support

Child Protection Social Worker

Cornwall Council

Up to £37 per hour

About the Role

Cornwall Council is looking for an experienced and resilient Social Worker to join our dedicated Child Protection Team. We require a highly skilled professional with proven experience working within a frontline statutory Children and Families setting. This role is essential in safeguarding our children and ensuring the best possible outcomes for families across Cornwall.

Key Responsibilities

As an experienced Child Protection Social Worker, you will be expected to undertake a full range of statutory duties, including:

* Statutory Case Management:
Undertake Child in Need (CIN), Child Protection, and Child in Care (CiC) visits to children and families. This involves assessing the capacity of parents to meet their needs and ensuring their safety.

* Safeguarding Investigations:
Lead and manage child protection processes, including the timely completion of Section 47 enquiries and comprehensive child protection investigations and reports.

* Legal Work:
Prepare detailed reports for legal proceedings (e.g., PLO and Court Work) and represent the Local Authority when required.

* Meetings and Coordination:
Chair meetings such as CIN, Core Groups, and Placement Planning meetings. For those with Practice Supervisor (PSW) experience, you will also be required to support management by chairing Section 47 strategy discussions across the Mid-Cornwall area.

* Direct Work:
Engage in meaningful direct work with children and young people aged 0–18.

* Duty Coverage:
Provide consistent cover for duty calls on a rota basis.

* Supervision (If Applicable):
Demonstrate the ability to manage and supervise staff or students (dependent on experience and seniority).

* Home Visits:
Conduct regular, robust home visits to assess risks.

What You Will Bring

* A recognised Social Work qualification (e.g., Degree in Social Work, CQSW, DipSW).

* Current registration with Social Work England.

* Substantial post-qualifying experience in a frontline statutory Children and Families team.

* Expert knowledge of relevant childcare legislation, policy, and practice standards.

* The ability to write clear, analytical, and evidence-based reports suitable for court use.

* A commitment to collaborative, multi-agency working