Job Description

Social Worker – Children in Our Care (Court Team) | Blackburn with Darwen Children's Services | £39 per Hour

Sheldon Phillips are working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Children's Services to recruit an experienced Social Worker to join their Children in Our Care (CIOC) Court Team on a long-term agency contract.

Rated 'Good' by Ofsted in its full ILACS inspection, Blackburn with Darwen continues to invest in high-quality social work practice and positive outcomes for children. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced practitioner with a strong background in care proceedings, court work and permanency planning to join a supportive and well-established service.

This role is primarily focused on care proceedings and court work, supporting children who are subject to ongoing legal proceedings and ensuring all statutory responsibilities and court-directed actions are completed within required timescales. Whilst there may be some involvement with children who remain looked after following the conclusion of proceedings, this is not a traditional long-term Children in Care role.

Role Overview

As a Social Worker within the CIOC Court Team, you will manage a caseload of children subject to care proceedings, undertaking all statutory duties required throughout the legal process. You will be responsible for preparing high-quality court reports, completing assessments, attending court hearings and progressing permanence planning for children where appropriate.

Working closely with legal services, guardians, foster carers and multi-agency partners, you will ensure that children's needs remain central to all planning and decision-making whilst meeting both local authority and court-directed timescales.

The role offers a hybrid working arrangement with a requirement to attend the office a minimum of three days per week.

Key Responsibilities

Manage a caseload of children subject to care proceedings.

Undertake all statutory responsibilities for children looked after during ongoing legal proceedings.

Complete comprehensive assessments, care plans and permanence planning documentation.

Prepare high-quality court statements, reports and evidence for court hearings.

Attend court hearings and provide professional evidence when required.

Work closely with legal services, Children's Guardians and partner agencies throughout proceedings.

Progress permanence plans for children, including rehabilitation, Special Guardianship, fostering and adoption where appropriate.

Undertake direct work with children and families to inform assessments and planning.

Ensure all court directions and local authority timescales are met.

Maintain accurate and timely recordings using Protocol/LCS.

Participate in statutory reviews, planning meetings and multi-agency forums.

Support children who remain looked after following proceedings where permanence arrangements are still being progressed.

Benefits

Competitive rate of £39 per hour.

Initial 6-month contract with the potential for extension.

Hybrid working model.

Minimum office attendance of three days per week.

Opportunity to work within a well-regarded Ofsted-rated Good authority.

Dedicated focus on care proceedings and court work for experienced practitioners seeking specialist legal casework.

Supportive management and collaborative team environment.

Requirements

Social Work England registration.

Qualified Social Worker (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).

Minimum of 3 years' post-qualified experience within children's social work.

Strong experience of care proceedings, court work and longer-term safeguarding.

Experience preparing court statements and presenting evidence within legal proceedings.

Sound knowledge of Children Act legislation, Public Law Outline and care planning processes.

Ability to manage competing priorities and meet court-directed deadlines.

Experience using Protocol/LCS is desirable.

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Strong communication, assessment and analytical skills.

Interested?

If you're an experienced Children's Social Worker with a strong court and care proceedings background looking for your next agency assignment, we'd love to hear from you.

Emily Cooper

Recruitment Consultant at Sheldon Phillips

(phone number removed)