Social Worker – Safeguarding Team

Southampton City Council

£39 per hour excellent agency rate
Frontline safeguarding service with long-term stable contract potential
Supportive management team with regular reflective supervision
Strong multi-agency partnerships and clear threshold decision-making
Opportunity to protect children and create lasting change for families

Are you an experienced Social Worker looking for your next frontline safeguarding opportunity? Southampton City Council is seeking a skilled and resilient practitioner to join its Safeguarding Team, where you will work with children and families subject to child protection, child in need, and court planning.

Paying £39 per hour, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a progressive local authority that values relationship-based practice, strong management oversight, and high-quality safeguarding interventions. You will play a pivotal role in reducing risk, strengthening family networks, and ensuring children achieve safe and sustainable outcomes.

About the Local Authority

Southampton City Council is recognised for its child-focused practice, strong leadership, and commitment to continuous service improvement. The safeguarding service benefits from robust multi-agency working across health, education, police, and legal partners, enabling practitioners to make timely and effective decisions for children at risk. You will be joining a supportive team environment where professional development, visible leadership, and manageable caseloads are prioritised.

Key Responsibilities

Hold a caseload of children subject to Child Protection, Child in Need, PLO, and court proceedings.
Undertake Section 47 investigations, risk assessments, and robust safety planning.
Complete high-quality single assessments, court reports, child protection conference reports, and care plans.
Lead direct work with children and families to reduce risk and improve parenting capacity.
Progress cases through PLO, care proceedings, permanence, and contingency planning where required.
Work closely with schools, police, health, legal teams, and partner agencies to ensure joined-up safeguarding responses.
Ensure the child’s voice is central to all planning and intervention.
Maintain accurate case recording and ensure statutory visits and timescales are consistently met.

Candidate Requirements

Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration.
Previous experience within a Safeguarding / Child Protection Team.
Strong knowledge of Children Act 1989, Working Together, PLO, and court work.
Confident in risk analysis, crisis intervention, and multi-agency safeguarding processes.
Able to thrive in a fast-paced frontline statutory environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.