Experienced Social Worker - Children with Disabilities

Experienced Social Worker – Children with Disabilities Team | Halton Council | £40 per hour

Halton Council are looking for an experienced Social Worker to join their Children with Disabilities Team on a locum basis. This is a specialist role working with children and young people with complex needs, supporting them and their families through statutory interventions, safeguarding processes, and tailored care planning.

This opportunity would suit a practitioner who has strong experience working with children with disabilities, is confident managing complex cases, and is skilled in multi-agency working to ensure children receive the right support and protection.

Role Overview

As an Experienced Social Worker in the Children with Disabilities Team, you will manage a caseload of children and young people with a range of disabilities and additional needs. You will complete statutory assessments, develop and review care plans, and ensure that each child’s needs are fully understood and met through coordinated multi-agency support.

This team focuses on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children with disabilities, many of whom may be subject to Child in Need, Child Protection, or Children in Care plans. The role requires a strong understanding of how disability impacts development, parenting capacity, and risk, alongside the ability to adapt communication and practice to meet individual needs.

You will be expected to work closely with families, schools, health professionals, and specialist services to deliver effective, child-centred interventions. The role demands confident decision-making, strong assessment skills, and the ability to balance support with robust safeguarding practice.

Key responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of children with disabilities, including complex and high-risk cases
• Complete Child and Family Assessments, ensuring a holistic understanding of need and risk
• Develop, implement, and review Child in Need, Child Protection, and care plans
• Undertake safeguarding investigations and contribute to Section 47 enquiries where required
• Work closely with multi-agency partners including health, education, and specialist disability services
• Support children and families through tailored, relationship-based interventions
• Ensure all case recording is accurate, analytical, and in line with statutory requirements
• Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings, reviews, and planning processes
• Advocate for children’s needs and ensure their voice is central to all planning

Benefits

• Competitive rate of £40 per hour
• Specialist role within a dedicated Children with Disabilities service
• Opportunity to work with complex and meaningful cases
• Strong multi-agency working environment with access to specialist services
• Valuable experience in disability-focused statutory social work
• Supportive team environment within a well-established local authority

Requirements

• Social Work England registration
• Qualified Social Worker status
• Significant post-qualified experience within children’s services
• Experience working with children with disabilities and complex needs
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding processes, including Section 17 and Section 47
• Confidence in multi-agency working and complex case management
• Ability to adapt practice to meet diverse communication and developmental needs
• Enhanced DBS and full compliance for locum work

Interested?

For more information or to apply, contact:
Emily Cooper – ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com | 07745 200325

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