Senior Social Worker Children in Care (Reunification & Discharge Team) Staffordshire County Council £33.30 per hour Sheldon Phillips are working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to recruit an experienced Senior Social Worker to join their Children in Care Reunification & Discharge Team. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled practitioner who is passionate about achieving permanence and positive outcomes for children by supporting safe reunification with families or progressing alternative permanence plans. This role offers a varied caseload focused on completing high-quality assessments and court work, working closely with children, families, carers and partner agencies to ensure timely, evidence-based decision making.
Role Overview As a Senior Social Worker within the Reunification & Discharge Team, you will manage a specialist caseload centred on permanency planning for children in care. Your work will include undertaking comprehensive assessments, preparing detailed reports for court and supporting children to safely return home where appropriate or progress through alternative permanence arrangements. You will work collaboratively with legal services, fostering teams, Independent Reviewing Officers and multi-agency partners to ensure all plans are robust, child-focused and completed within statutory timescales.
Key Responsibilities - Complete comprehensive Special Guardianship Order (SGO) Part 1 Assessments in accordance with statutory guidance.
- Undertake detailed parenting assessments to evaluate parents' capacity to safely care for their children.
- Prepare high-quality court reports, statements and other legal documentation to support care proceedings and permanence planning.
- Assess and progress reunification plans, ensuring risks are thoroughly analysed and managed.
- Work directly with children, families and carers to ensure children's voices remain central to assessment and planning.
- Liaise effectively with legal teams, Independent Reviewing Officers, fostering services and partner agencies.
- Develop clear, outcome-focused permanence plans that promote stability and long-term wellbeing.
- Maintain accurate case recordings and complete assessments within statutory and court-directed timescales.
- Provide professional analysis and recommendations that support informed decision making.
- Contribute to team discussions, supervision and service development as a senior practitioner.
Benefits - £33.30 per hour.
- Opportunity to work within a specialist Children in Care Reunification & Discharge Team.
- Focus on meaningful permanence work with children and families.
- Supportive management team and experienced multidisciplinary colleagues.
- Flexible working arrangements where service needs allow.
- Long-term agency opportunity with a well-established local authority.
Requirements - Registered with Social Work England.
- Qualified Social Worker with significant post-qualified experience within Children's Services.
- Strong experience completing SGO Part 1 Assessments, parenting assessments and court reports.
- Sound knowledge of permanence planning, reunification processes and care proceedings.
- Excellent assessment, analytical and report writing skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities whilst maintaining high-quality practice.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle preferred.
Interested? If you're an experienced Senior Social Worker looking to specialise in permanence, reunification and court work within a supportive local authority, we'd love to hear from you.
To apply or find out more, please contact Emily Cooper at Sheldon Phillips:
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