Social Worker – Looked After Children Service

North Somerset Council

£38 per hour | Hybrid Working | Immediate Starts Available

• Excellent rate of £38 per hour
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements available
• Join a Local Authority rated "Good" by OFSTED
• Immediate starts available
• Supportive management structure and stable leadership
• Opportunity to work in a service focused on achieving permanence and positive outcomes for children

Are you an experienced Children's Social Worker looking for your next contract opportunity within a progressive and supportive Local Authority? North Somerset Council is currently looking to appoint experienced practitioners into their Looked After Children Service as they continue to strengthen an already successful and ambitious service.

North Somerset is a beautiful coastal authority, offering a unique mix of thriving towns, rural communities and seaside locations, whilst maintaining the benefits of being close to Bristol and the wider South West region. The Council has built a strong reputation for placing children and families at the centre of everything they do and has invested heavily in developing a stable and experienced workforce.

The authority was recently recognised with a "Good" rating from OFSTED, highlighting the quality of practice across Children's Services and the commitment shown by practitioners and leaders alike to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. Inspectors praised the strong leadership, committed workforce and positive experiences of children receiving support from services.

About the Looked After Children Service

The Looked After Children Team plays a crucial role in supporting children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families and are subject to Care Orders or accommodated under Section 20 arrangements.

The service works with children from the point they become looked after through to permanence and independence, ensuring they receive consistent support, stability and opportunities to thrive. Social Workers within the team develop meaningful and lasting relationships with children and young people, helping them to understand their journeys, achieve their goals and prepare for adulthood.

The team works closely alongside foster carers, residential providers, health professionals, schools, virtual schools, independent reviewing officers and other partner agencies to ensure children receive coordinated and effective support tailored to their individual needs.

Practitioners are encouraged to undertake direct work with children, ensuring their voices remain central to all decision making and care planning processes. The service places a strong emphasis on permanence planning, whether this is through reunification, long-term fostering, special guardianship, adoption or preparing young people for independent living.

North Somerset prides itself on creating manageable workloads and providing Social Workers with the time and support required to build effective relationships and undertake purposeful interventions that lead to positive change.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing a caseload of looked after children and young people.
• Undertaking statutory visits and maintaining regular meaningful contact with children and carers.
• Completing care plans, pathway plans and permanence plans.
• Supporting children through placement moves and transitions where required.
• Preparing reports for court proceedings, reviews and planning meetings.
• Working closely with foster carers, residential settings and partner agencies to promote positive outcomes.
• Ensuring children and young people remain at the centre of all assessments, plans and interventions.
• Supporting young people as they prepare for independence and adulthood.

Candidate Requirements

• Registration with Social Work England.
• Previous experience within a Looked After Children, Children in Care or Permanence Team.
• Sound knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and care planning processes.
• Strong assessment, report writing and relationship-based practice skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-agency environment.

Why Join North Somerset Council?

• Competitive pay rate of £38 per hour.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements offering an excellent work-life balance.
• Opportunity to join a Local Authority with a stable and supportive leadership team.
• Work within a service recognised for delivering positive outcomes for children and families.
• Immediate interviews and start dates available.
• Be part of a team committed to relationship-based practice and long-term permanence planning.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced practitioner seeking their next contract within a well-regarded Local Authority that values its workforce and is committed to continuing its journey of improvement and excellence.

For more information or to apply, please contact:

Josh Dhumisani
📞 07902 371315
✉️ jdhumisani@sheldon-phillips.com