Referral and Intervention Social Worker Senior Social Worker

A Social Worker within the Referral and Intervention Team is responsible for undertaking statutory assessments and child protection enquiries to identify risk, understand children's needs and determine the most appropriate level of intervention to safeguard and promote their welfare.

This is a short-term intervention service focused on assessment, planning and decision-making. The primary aim of the role is to work with children and families to assess risk and need, identify the support required, and ensure children are transferred to the most appropriate longer-term service or intervention to achieve positive outcomes.

Key responsibilities include: Senior Social Worker

• Providing direct social work intervention with children and families to support change, reduce risk and improve outcomes during the assessment period.
• Completing Child and Family Assessments and Section 47 Child Protection enquiries where there are concerns regarding significant harm.
• Gathering information from children, families and partner agencies to analyse risk, protective factors and unmet need.
• Developing recommendations and plans based on assessment findings, ensuring interventions are proportionate, timely and focused on the child's needs.
• Attending and presenting information at Initial Child Protection Conferences, Child in Need meetings and multi-agency meetings to support decision-making and facilitate transfer to appropriate longer-term services where required.
• Working closely with Early Help and longer-term social work teams to ensure robust transition planning and continuity for children and families.
• Ensuring all recording, assessments and interventions are completed in line with statutory guidance, legislation and local safeguarding procedures.

In summary, this role is centred on completing high-quality assessments, undertaking child protection investigations and making clear recommendations about the most appropriate intervention for children and families, before stepping cases across to longer-term services where ongoing support or statutory involvement is required.