Senior Social Worker

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 per week

Salary: NJC Grade H3 SCP 36-40 £47,181 - £51,356 per annum

Closing Date: Thursday 2nd April 2026 at 12 noon

This post is open to employees currently On Notice/At Risk and Internal.  Please note applications from employees currently On Notice/At Risk will be given priority. On Notice/At Risk employees should complete the application form as normal, upon submission you must email the Recruitment Team – recruitment@blackpool.gov.uk to ensure that your application form is marked as priority.

Senior Social Worker – Awaken Team

Make a real difference where it matters most.

Blackpool’s Awaken Team is nationally recognised for its innovative, trauma-informed approach to working with children and young people at risk of, or experiencing, exploitation.  We are looking for an experienced, passionate Senior Social Worker to help drive excellent practice and safeguard some of our most vulnerable young people.

About the Role

As a Senior Social Worker within Awaken, you will:

• Hold a caseload of complex work involving child criminal and child sexual exploitation.  
• Offer professional leadership, mentoring, and support to less experienced social workers and practitioners.
• Lead on high-risk planning, chair multi-agency meetings, and contribute to strategic safeguarding responses.
• Work directly with children and young people using trauma-informed, relationship-based practice.
• Build strong partnerships with Police, Health, Education, and community networks to protect children beyond traditional safeguarding boundaries.
• Contribute to service development, quality assurance, and the ongoing innovation of the Awaken model.
• Deputise for team managers as and when required.

About You

We’re looking for a Senior Social Worker who:

• Is a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration.
• Has substantial experience working in statutory children’s services, ideally with knowledge of child exploitation, missing from home, or extra-familial harm.
• Is confident in managing risk, leading complex casework, and making evidence-based decisions.
• Brings enthusiasm, resilience, and a commitment to relational, strength-based practice.
• Values reflective practice, continual learning, and contributing to a supportive team culture.

Why Join Blackpool’s Awaken Team?

• Be part of a highly skilled, specialist team with an excellent reputation.
• Work within a service that prioritises innovation, professional development, and creative safeguarding approaches.
• Access high-quality training and development opportunities specific to exploitation and trauma-informed practice.
• Benefit from supportive leadership, regular reflective supervision, and a strong multi-agency network.
• Enjoy the benefits of working for Blackpool Council, including flexible working, wellbeing support, and a focus on work–life balance.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you’re passionate about protecting children, influencing practice, and challenging exploitation in all its forms, we’d love to hear from you.

to view the Job Description.

Please click here to see the benefits of working for Blackpool Council.

Are you a Blackpool resident aged between 16-24? Would you benefit from some free guidance on producing a quality application for job vacancies such as this one? Blackpool Council?s Youth Hub - The Platform, has highly skilled Employment Advisers that can support you with demonstrating how you can evidence you meet the Essential and Desirable criteria requirements on a Job Description.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/vulnerable adults. This post is subject to satisfactory reference history of at least two years, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, medical clearance, evidence of any essential qualifications and proof of Right to Work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and amendments to the exemptions order, which mean that certain offences are ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed, guidance on the "filtering" of offences can be found at New filtering rules for DBS certificates (from 28 November 2020 onwards) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For further information on the health and wellbeing support on offer during your employment, please see here.

Have you got what it takes to ride the Roller Coaster ride of Social Work in Blackpool? for further information on the career path and development opportunities available at Blackpool please see here.