Social Worker

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 per week

Salary: NJC Grade H1/H2 SCP 27-35 £38,220 - £46,142 per annum

Closing Date: Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at 23:59

Social Worker Complex Needs 

We are seeking a Social Worker to join our Children with Complex Needs Team. The team is split into two sections:

• Assessment and Short Breaks
• Long term Child in Need, Child Protection and Our Children.

The post is within the Assessment and Short Breaks Team and the post holder will be responsible for case management and oversight of new assessments coming into the team and reviewing assessments on an annual basis for children who have active short break packages of care.  The post holder will work closely with our family support workers to assist and support them to prevent escalation to Child In Need planning.

The post holder is expected to undertake case management independently and demonstrate an ability to adapt their approach from first principles to deal with more complex or unusual cases, assessing and managing risks appropriately.

Blackpool Council is an innovative organisation and is driving the implementation of the Knowledge and skills statement (KSS) from the Department for Health in preparation for the launch of the National Accreditation and Assessment Scheme. As such, we would expect potential employees to reference individual practice to the KSS.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• The completion of new Child and Family assessments from Blackpool’s Request for Support Hub. This will include the ability to identify and respond to a range of unmet needs for children with complex needs and their families, working with them to consider thresholds for intervention and develop a plan of support.
• Lead Professional in assessing, planning and reviewing assessments and care plans of children subject to short breaks plans. Working closely with our family support workers to ensure that every child’s assessment is updated within a 12 month period. Supporting family support workers to assist families whose situations are more complex.
• The ability to identify risk of abuse and investigate complaints of alleged neglect, abuse or ill-treatment of children; undertake assessments and, where appropriate, arrange accommodation for children, young people.
• Work with children and young people, families, carers and communities to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning
• Apply critical reflection and analysis to inform and provide a rationale for professional decision-making
• Use judgement and authority to intervene with individuals, families and communities to promote independence, provide support and prevent harm, neglect and abuse (PCF requirement)
• Liaise with colleagues in own and other departments and external agencies in order to gather information and resources necessary for assessment and care planning activities.
• Work to a range of legal options to support investigation and protection and give evidence in court in relation to care proceedings if required.
• Ability to understand the Journey of the Child and plan for permanence with the child remaining central to all planning.
• Manage an allocated caseload of complex cases and maintain all statutory responsibilities updating case notes and other records, write reports and maintain chronologies as required
• Operate effectively within multi-agency and inter-professional partnerships settings and meetings
• Understand, contribute to and comply with key performance indicators.
• Identify and behave as a professional social worker, committed to professional development
• Take responsibility for the professional learning and development of others through supervision, mentoring, assessing, research, teaching, leadership and management
• Promote monitor and maintain Health Safety and Security in the workplace
• Apply social work ethical principles and values to guide professional practice
• Recognise diversity and apply anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive principles in practice

With strong transport links, a growing housing market and a council committed to improving outcomes for children, there’s never been a better time to join us.

If you’re driven, compassionate and ready to make a real impact, Blackpool could be your next step.

SALARY MATCH: Candidates who are recruited from the same or similar role may be eligible for a salary match within the above salary banding.

For an informal discussion about this role please contact Umar Farooq via Umar.Farooq@blackpool.gov.uk

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.