Social Worker - Assessment

Assessment Team | Bolton Council
£37 per hour | Locum | Hybrid

If you like fast-paced frontline work where you can actually make decisions and move things forward, this is a solid Assessment post at a strong rate. You’ll be doing meaningful, time-bound work — assessments, planning, and clear next steps — rather than drifting cases.

About the role

You’ll be working in Bolton’s Assessment service completing statutory assessments and safeguarding enquiries, progressing plans quickly and proportionately. Expect a mix of S17 Child & Family Assessments, S47 enquiries, strategy discussions, multi-agency working, and purposeful direct work with children and families — with clear transfer points once cases step into longer-term safeguarding/court pathways.

Practice approach
You’ll be expected to work in a strengths-based, child-centred way — curious, analytical, and confident with risk — balancing challenge and support with families while keeping decision-making tight and well-recorded.

Key responsibilities

• Complete S17 Child & Family Assessments within timescales, with clear analysis and recommendations
• Undertake S47 enquiries and contribute to strategy discussions and safety planning
• Manage cases through ICPC where required and ensure plans are robust and child-focused
• Undertake statutory visits and direct work to capture the child’s lived experience
• Work closely with Police, Health, Education and wider agencies to inform assessments and decisions
• Produce high-quality, defensible case recording and reports
• Identify risk, drift and disguised compliance early — and act decisively
• Progress cases to the right outcome: step-down, closure, or transfer to the relevant long-term pathway

Benefits 

• £37 per hour
• Clear assessment remit with defined purpose and pace
• Hybrid working (service-led) and supportive multi-agency environment

Requirements

• Recent experience in a frontline Assessment / Duty / Referral & Assessment setting
• Social Work England registration
• Confident completing S17 and S47 work, including ICPC preparation where needed
• Strong analytical skills and quality case recording
• Ability to work at pace while keeping decisions child-centred and evidence-led

Interested?

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