Social Worker - Looked After Children
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Social Worker specializing in Looked After Children to join our diverse team. Our organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every child and family is treated with respect and equity. You will play a pivotal role in supporting children who are in care, ensuring their safety, well-being, and development.
Responsibilities- Conduct thorough assessments of children?s needs, including those involved in unauthorised absence situations.
- Develop, implement, and review care plans tailored to each child's unique circumstances.
- Work collaboratively with families, carers, and multi-agency partners to promote positive outcomes.
- Advocate for the rights and needs of Looked After Children, ensuring their voices are heard.
- Monitor and respond to unauthorised absences promptly, implementing strategies to reduce risk.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records in compliance with legal and ethical standards.
- Attend and contribute to child protection conferences, reviews, and other relevant meetings.
- Support children transitioning from care to independence or other suitable placements.
- Relevant qualification in Social Work (e.g., degree in Social Work) and full registration with the appropriate regulatory body.
- Experience working with Looked After Children, including understanding of unauthorised absences.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policies, and best practices.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with cultural competence and sensitivity.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Commitment to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in practice.
- Engaging directly with children and families to build trusting relationships.
- Coordinating with schools, healthcare providers, and community services to support the child's needs.
- Responding to and managing unauthorised absences swiftly and effectively.
- Participating in regular supervision, training, and reflective practice to enhance professional development.
- Documenting casework and progress accurately, using digital case management systems.
- Contributing to team meetings, sharing insights, and supporting colleagues in a collaborative environment.
We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. If you are passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of Looked After Children, we encourage you to apply.
Connect2Surreyis a trading style of Surrey & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Surrey County Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Surrey is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Open your Personal Statement with your Social Work England registration number and LAC specialism, as the advert lists registration as a mandatory qualification.
📊 Quantify your caseload: e.g. 'Managed a caseload of 18 Looked After Children, reducing unauthorised absence incidents by 30% over 6 months' — the advert specifically flags unauthorised absence management.
🎯 Dedicate a CV bullet to child protection conferences, naming your role (chair, contributor, minute-taker) and frequency, as attending and contributing to these meetings is listed as a core responsibility.
🌐 Highlight experience with digital case management systems by name (e.g. Liquid Logic, ICS, Eclipse) — the advert references documenting casework using such tools and Surrey County Council commonly uses these platforms.
🤝 Include a specific example of multi-agency coordination (e.g. schools, CAMHS, housing) to mirror the advert's emphasis on working with schools, healthcare providers, and community services.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Managed a statutory LAC caseload of 17 children, completing all care plan reviews within statutory timescales and reducing placement breakdowns by 22% over 12 months.
- •Led multi-agency responses to 14 unauthorised absence cases in one quarter, coordinating with police, schools, and CAMHS to secure safe returns within an average of 48 hours.
- •Contributed to 30+ child protection conferences annually, producing court-standard assessment reports that supported successful legal planning decisions in 95% of cases reviewed.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
We've drafted a cover letter for Connect2Surrey. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to Connect2Surrey
Dear Hiring Manager,
Connect2Surrey's Looked After Children Social Worker role in Weybridge is precisely aligned with my practice focus. Having worked directly with LAC caseloads that include unauthorised absence management and child protection conference participation, I am confident in my ability to contribute from day one. I hold a Social Work degree and maintain full registration with Social Work England.
My background in children's statutory services has equipped me with strong skills in care plan development, multi-agency coordination, and safeguarding legislation. I have consistently managed caseloads of 15 or more Looked After Children, working alongside schools, CAMHS, and housing teams to deliver joined-up support. I am proficient in digital case management systems including Liquid Logic and use supervision and reflective practice to continuously improve my casework.
Free signup, no card needed. Export to PDF/Word requires a £1.99 trial (14 days).
Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›Which digital case management system have you used most extensively, and how do you ensure records are accurate and completed within required timescales?
- ›Walk us through your process for conducting a needs assessment for a Looked After Child, including how you incorporate the child's voice.
- ›How do you develop and review a care plan to ensure it remains responsive to a child's changing circumstances?
- ›What steps do you take when a Looked After Child is recorded as an unauthorised absence, and how do you assess and mitigate risk?
- ›How do you apply current safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance (e.g. Working Together 2023) in your day-to-day practice?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to advocate strongly for a Looked After Child's needs against resistance from another professional or agency.
- ›Describe a situation where you managed a complex unauthorised absence case — what actions did you take and what was the outcome?
- ›Give an example of when you supported a young person transitioning from care to independence. What challenges arose and how did you address them?
- ›Tell me about a time you worked within a multidisciplinary team where there were conflicting views on a child's care plan. How did you handle it?
- ›Describe a moment when reflective supervision helped you change your approach to a case. What did you learn?
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to advocate strongly for a Looked After Child's needs against resistance from another professional or agency.
Give an example of when you supported a young person transitioning from care to independence. What challenges arose and how did you address them?
Similar jobs
View allExperienced Social Worker - Intake & Assessment
The Guardian · Cardiff
Family Court Adviser (FCA) - CAFCASS | Stevenage
Eden Brown Synergy · Stevenage
Residential Child Support Worker - Cumbria
Randstad Care · Carlisle
Inhouse- Principle Family Solicitor
Yolk Recruitment Ltd · Barry