Social Worker - Safeguarding

Family Safeguarding | Rochdale Council | £39.00 per hour

About the role

This is a Family Support and Protection role within Children’s Services, working with children and families on Child in Need and Child Protection plans. You’ll hold cases from assessment transfer through to step-down or escalation, completing direct work, coordinating multi-agency plans, and ensuring children’s lived experience stays central to decision-making.

You’ll need to be confident with safeguarding processes, risk analysis, and producing high-quality written work, including assessments, plans, and court-related documentation where required.

Key responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of children and families within a Family Support and Protection service.

• Hold and progress Child in Need and Child Protection plans, ensuring timely intervention and clear outcomes.
• Complete statutory visits and direct work with children to assess risk, need, and protective factors.
• Undertake assessments and update plans in line with changing family circumstances.
• Progress Section 47 enquiries and safeguarding actions where concerns escalate.
• Build effective working relationships with parents and carers while maintaining a clear focus on the child’s safety.
• Work closely with partner agencies including schools, health, police, and early help services.
• Attend and contribute to strategy meetings, core groups, child protection conferences, and review meetings.
• Maintain accurate case recordings and produce clear, evidence-based reports within timescales.
• Escalate risk appropriately and support step-down planning where risks reduce.

Benefits

• £39.00 per hour locum rate
• Strong frontline safeguarding role with meaningful casework
• Opportunity to work in a team focused on long-term outcomes for children
• Good fit for social workers confident in CP/CIN planning and multi-agency practice

Requirements

• Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW or equivalent)
• Social Work England registration
• Recent statutory children’s social work experience
• Experience in Safeguarding / Family Support / Child Protection teams
• Confident managing CIN and CP plans
• Strong assessment, risk management, and multi-agency working skills
• Ability to produce high-quality written work and maintain accurate records

Interested?

For more information or to apply, contact:

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

Know someone suitable? We offer a referral bonus for successful recommendations.