Social Worker - Children in Care

Social Worker – Children in Care Team
Nottingham City Council | East Midlands
£37.50 per hour (Umbrella) | Locum contract
Working pattern: Hybrid working (office presence in line with service needs)

Nottingham City Council is recruiting experienced Children in Care Social Workers to join a busy, supportive team focused on delivering stable, long-term outcomes for children and young people. This role suits someone who’s confident managing a varied caseload and can build strong, consistent relationships with children, carers and partner agencies.

About the Role

You’ll hold responsibility for children and young people in care, progressing care planning, permanency and pathway planning while ensuring statutory duties are met and the child’s lived experience remains central to decision-making.

Key responsibilities

• Managed a caseload of Children in Care, completing statutory visits, assessments and care planning in line with legislation and guidance.

• Built purposeful relationships with children, young people and carers, using direct work to understand lived experience and inform plans.

• Produced high-quality reports for LAC Reviews, permanency planning and key decision-making meetings.

• Progressed permanence outcomes including reunification, long-term fostering, SGO and adoption pathways where appropriate.

• Worked closely with IROs, foster carers, residential providers, schools and health colleagues to drive stability and reduce placement disruption.

• Identified and responded to safeguarding concerns promptly, completing risk assessments and escalating when thresholds were met.

• Maintained accurate, timely case recording and ensured plans were outcomes-focused and regularly reviewed.

Practice Model

Nottingham’s approach is grounded in relationship-based, child-centred practice, with an emphasis on purposeful direct work, smart planning and multi-agency collaboration to improve stability and long-term outcomes for children in care.

Requirements

• Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW) and current Social Work England registration.

• Recent experience working in a Children in Care / LAC team within a UK local authority.

• Strong understanding of care planning, permanency pathways and corporate parenting responsibilities.

• Confident producing clear, analytical written work (care plans, reports, chronologies).

• Ability to work at pace while maintaining quality and keeping children’s outcomes at the centre.

Benefits

• £37.50 per hour umbrella

• Hybrid working

• Supportive management and team structure

• Opportunity to work in a well-established corporate parenting service

• Quick start available