Job Description

Social Worker – Permanence Team

Dorset Council

£40 per hour | Locum Opportunity | Hybrid Working | 3 Days per Week in the Office

Key Highlights

£40 per hour

Locum Social Worker opportunity

Permanence Team

Hybrid working – 3 days per week in the office

Candidates must be local to Dorset

Supportive and experienced management team

Focus on achieving long-term stability for children

Immediate interview and start opportunities available

Are you an experienced Social Worker with a passion for achieving lasting outcomes for children? Dorset Council is seeking a committed and motivated Social Worker to join its Permanence Team, supporting children and young people to achieve safe, stable, and permanent living arrangements.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established service that is dedicated to ensuring children experience stability, security, and positive futures. Offering a competitive rate of £40 per hour and a hybrid working arrangement with 3 office days per week, this role is ideal for practitioners who enjoy long-term planning and delivering meaningful change for children and families.

Please note: Due to the office attendance requirements, applicants must be local to Dorset and able to attend the office three days per week.

About Dorset Council

Dorset Council is committed to delivering high-quality services that place children and young people at the centre of decision-making. The authority has built a strong reputation for relationship-based practice, collaborative working, and supporting social workers to deliver the best possible outcomes for children.

The Permanence Team plays a crucial role in securing long-term stability for children through permanence planning, care planning, and achieving timely outcomes. Social workers within the team work closely with children, carers, families, legal services, and partner agencies to ensure children have the opportunity to thrive in safe and nurturing environments.

You'll be joining a service that values professional judgement, reflective practice, and effective multi-agency collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Manage a caseload of children requiring permanence planning and long-term support.

Develop and progress permanence plans for children in care.

Undertake comprehensive assessments and care planning activities.

Work directly with children, families, foster carers, and connected persons to achieve positive outcomes.

Prepare high-quality reports for reviews, panels, and court proceedings.

Participate in care planning meetings, permanency planning meetings, and statutory reviews.

Work collaboratively with fostering services, adoption services, legal teams, and external agencies.

Ensure plans are child-focused and promote stability, permanence, and wellbeing.

Maintain accurate case records and ensure statutory responsibilities are met.

Promote the voice of the child in all planning and decision-making processes.

Candidate Requirements

Qualified Social Worker with a recognised Social Work qualification.

Registered with the Social Work England.

Experience working within Children in Care, Permanence, Looked After Children, or Safeguarding Services.

Strong understanding of permanence planning and care proceedings.

Excellent assessment, report-writing, and analytical skills.

Ability to manage complex cases and work effectively within a multi-agency environment.

Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Must be local to Dorset and able to attend the office 3 days per week.

Why Work With Us?

£40 per hour competitive locum rate

Hybrid working with 3 office days per week

Opportunity to work within a dedicated Permanence Team

Supportive and accessible management structure

Regular supervision and reflective practice

Meaningful work focused on achieving long-term outcomes for children

Dedicated consultant support throughout your assignment

Access to a wide range of future local authority opportunities

Generous referral bonus scheme

Opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people

Apply Today

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact:

Josh Dhumisani

📞 (phone number removed)

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