Social Worker - Children in Care

Position: Social Worker / Senior Social Worker
Team: Children in Care
Contract: Locum
Pay Rate: £33.30 per hour
Location: Birmingham Children’s Trust

Sheldon Phillips are working in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Trust to recruit an experienced Social Worker or Senior Social Worker to join their Children in Care Team. This is a key statutory role focused on delivering high-quality care planning and permanence outcomes for children and young people who are looked after.

The Children in Care Team works with children from the point of entry into care through to permanence, supporting stability, safeguarding, and positive long-term outcomes. The role offers the opportunity to work within a structured service with clear pathways and supportive management.

What You Can Expect:

• A dedicated Children in Care service with clear care planning and permanence pathways

• Manageable caseloads focused on long-term relationship-based practice

• Supportive management and regular supervision

• Opportunities to work on complex and meaningful cases

• Strong multi-agency collaboration with fostering, adoption, health, and education services

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Managing a caseload of children and young people who are looked after

• Completing statutory visits and building consistent, trusting relationships with children

• Developing and reviewing care plans in line with statutory requirements

• Progressing permanence planning, including long-term fostering, special guardianship, and adoption where appropriate

• Attending and contributing to Looked After Reviews, professionals’ meetings, and court proceedings

• Preparing high-quality reports for panels, reviews, and legal processes

• Working closely with carers, families, and partner agencies to promote stability and positive outcomes

• Maintaining timely, analytical, and accurate case recordings

Requirements:

• Social Work qualification (Degree or equivalent)

• SWE registration

• Post-qualified experience within Children’s Services

• Experience working within Children in Care / Looked After Children teams

• Sound knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989 and care planning regulations

• Ability to manage complex cases and work confidently within statutory frameworks

• Strong communication, organisation, and analytical skills

This is a strong opportunity for a Social Worker or Senior Social Worker seeking consistent Children in Care work within a large and well-established trust, offering competitive pay and the chance to make a real difference to children’s lives.