Social Worker - Child Protection

at  Dorset Councils

Are you seeking a rewarding career in Children’s Services? Be part of designing social work for the future.
Join our exceptional teams in children’s services, where you’ll be fully supported and appreciated throughout your career - whether you’re newly qualified, or an experienced practitioner. In Dorset, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where every child can thrive, and we want our colleagues to do the same.
At the heart of our program is a commitment to support outcomes that matter – fostering environments where children, young people, and families not only stay together but thrive. We’re dedicated to providing the essential help they need, ensuring they are surrounded by the support of their family network, and creating safe spaces both inside and outside their homes.
What sets us apart is our unwavering dedication to ensuring children in care and care leavers find stable, loving homes. This isn’t just a job; it’s a chance to make a lasting impact on the future of those who need it most.
We take immense pride in leading the way nationally, pioneering groundbreaking initiatives that have garnered recognition from the government. Join a team of dedicated professionals in Children’s Services who, in recent months and years, have set new standards in their commitment to the well-being of children and families.
Here at Dorset Council, you won’t just be an employee – you’ll be a vital contributor to a legacy of positive change. Be a part of a community that values your skills, appreciates your passion, and recognises the difference you can make. Join us in creating a brighter future for children, young people, and families. Your journey towards meaningful work starts here.
In July this year, the Department for Education officially announced the Families First for Children Pathfinder. Dorset has been recognised for the fantastic work with children, young people and families taking place by being selected to be one of only three initial pathfinder sites nationally, testing the delivery of key reforms across the sector. This is a fantastic opportunity and comes with central government grant funding and support which recognises the scale and ambition of the work we need to carry out.
Our focus is on supporting families to meet the needs of their children and keeping children at home where it is safe to do so. You’ll find a variety of exciting challenges, working with our children, families, and partners, in a workplace that inspires you to grow professionally and personally.
As part of our model, we have developed multi-agency locality teams bringing together colleagues from across Early Help, Children’s Social Care, Educational Psychology, SEND and Inclusion services under the leadership of Heads of Locality and Strategy.

We also have truly exciting initiatives. Some examples are:

• The Pineapple Project that provides safe havens in Weymouth to help to keep young women safer when they are outside of their family home using the principles of community guardianship.
• Safeguarding Families Together; embedding specialist multi-disciplinary professionals within teams and working ‘whole family’. After successful pilots in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester the project is due to be rolled out across all localities
• In the East of the county, the first two family hubs (with more locations planned) provide visible, appealing and welcoming spaces for families to access help and support from Dorset Council and partner services.

Join us and be part of our exceptional Children’s Services team, recently recognised as Good with Outstanding Leadership by Ofsted. This is not just a job; it’s an extraordinary opportunity to empower children and help them reach their full potential. With Pathfinder, we will be changing the way Social Care and how working with families is approached in Dorset and helping to shape this across the country.
As a Social Worker here in Dorset, you’ll truly make a difference to the lives of children and young people in our beautiful county.
We prioritise your wellbeing by offering access to talking therapies, a network of Mental Health Champions, and workshops facilitated by our dedicated Employee Wellbeing Team.
You’ll join a forward-thinking service, where you’ll be encouraged to think creatively, question how we do things, and devise new, innovative approaches through our ‘Diagonal Slice’ initiative – our Children’s Services’ employee forum.

Our innovative model of working, Dorset Children Thrive, will support you to be part of a service that:

• Puts children and families at the heart of everything we do
• Focuses on ‘getting it right first time’ by providing early help
• Makes services easily accessible for all
• Develops a skilled, supported and confident workforce
• Provides quality and efficient services that meet the highest standards
• Measures success by how we have made life better for children and young people

Find out more about Children’s Services in Dorset: Jobs in Children’s Services - Dorset Council.

As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner, you will be working in a multi-agency child protection team with families who are subject to complex Child in Need plans, Child Protection plans, pre proceedings and court proceedings to:

• Deliver the service in accordance with statutory responsibilities set out in the Children Act 1989 and other relevant legislation
• Undertake assessment of children’s needs in accordance with Directorate policies and procedures
• Undertake assessments of children’s needs and create effective plans which are renewed in a timely manner
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children
• Provide support, information and advice to families to help parents become more self-reliant
• Prepare reports for courts and various meetings and to present to a variety of professionals in a variety of settings and may be required to attend to give evidence in legal proceedings as required
• Chair multi agency meetings that support the development and review of plans.
• Maintain essential records, input and maintain records on the core computer system as required
• Work alongside the Lead Family Help Practitioner, where there is an existing relationship with a family providing child protection expertise and leading on statutory work.
• Undertake direct work with children and families to progress the plan
• Undertake specialist assessments once training has been provided