Social Worker - Assessment

Social Worker |  Assessment Team (Front Door) | Leicestershire County Council
Full-time: 37 hours per week | Locum Contract
Based in Glenfield, Leicestershire 

Leicestershire County Council is looking for an experienced Level 3 Social Worker to join their Assessment Team. This is a proper front-door role — fast-paced, highly statutory, and suited to someone who can triage risk, complete strong assessments, and progress cases confidently when escalation is needed.

About the Role

You’ll work at the front end of children’s services, completing timely, analytical assessments and responding to safeguarding concerns. You’ll need to be confident with Child Protection work and comfortable with court-related tasks (statements, evidence, professional recommendations), ensuring children are protected and families get the right support at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake high-quality front door assessments, including S17 Child in Need and S47 safeguarding enquiries where required

• Analyse risk, apply thresholds, and make clear recommendations to ensure swift and proportionate decision-making

• Progress cases through safeguarding pathways including strategy discussions, safety planning and multi-agency actions

• Complete strong written work including assessments, reports and court statements, with clear, defensible analysis

• Build effective working relationships with families while maintaining professional boundaries and purposeful interventions

• Work closely with partner agencies (police, health, education) to share information appropriately and coordinate responses

• Maintain accurate, timely case recording in line with statutory guidance and local procedures

• Keep the child’s lived experience central, ensuring plans are outcome-focused and time-bound

Practice Model

Leicestershire’s front door services are built around timely intervention, strong professional curiosity, and clear risk analysis. You’ll be expected to work in a child-centred, strengths-based way — balancing support and challenge — while ensuring safeguarding action is decisive when risk is identified.

Requirements

• Social Work qualification (or equivalent) and Social Work England registration

• Ideally Level 3 (or equivalent experience operating at that level)

• Recent experience in a Front Door / Assessment Team environment

• Proven Child Protection experience and confidence working with high-risk cases

• Court work experience (statements, evidence, and working within proceedings/processes)

• Able to commit to full-time (37 hours)

Benefits

• Full-time opportunity in a high-impact statutory team

• Varied work with strong opportunities to demonstrate advanced assessment and safeguarding skills

• Clear start window (approximately 4 weeks), supporting quick onboarding where possible

Interested?

Contact Emily Cooper - 07745 200325 | ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com

Referral bonus available – refer someone suitable and earn up to £300 (subject to terms).