Senior Social Worker

THERAPEUTIC & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICE (TESS)

Grade 5

Senior Social Worker

1 full time post at 36.5hrs

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Social Worker with a keen interest in supporting young adults who have left care, to join our Therapeutic and Emotional Support Service (TESS).  

TESS is an emotional wellbeing service that offers assessment and a wide range of individual, dyadic and group interventions to Birmingham’s children in care, their parents and foster carers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and care leavers up to the age of 25 years. TESS also provides consultation and support to the professional and care network. The advertised role will predominately focus on supporting care leavers and those 16+ living independently who have experienced early adversity and present with attachment and complex trauma-related difficulties.

We are keen to recruit people that are interested in joining a team whose area of focus is working with care experienced young adults.  The post holders will be joining a friendly, supportive, very well established and highly regarded multi-disciplinary team of clinical psychology, systemic family therapy, play therapy, and other therapeutic Social Workers trained in a variety of models (e.g. DDP, CBT, DBT, etc). A wide range of approaches and models are utilised within the service to best meet the needs of care experienced children and young adults, and innovative and creative work is encouraged.

We work with care leavers who reside in Birmingham and out of the city, who are from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Our workforce represents the diverse families of Birmingham that we support.

Young adults who are referred for support experience a wide spectrum of concerns, including issues of separation and loss, emotional, behavioural and neurodevelopmental difficulties, mental health issues and developmental trauma.  We work closely with care experienced young adults and other agencies. An ability to demonstrate team and multi-agency working are crucial elements to this role.

We are looking to recruit a Senior Social Worker to join our TESS team. You will be working as part of a team to deliver support and guidance via a consultation and guidance service to the wider care leavers support network. A key part of the role will be to offer direct therapeutic support with a focus on improving emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships, in turn, developing emotional stability and personal resilience.

We will provide you with access to training, regular professional supervision, and on-going support.

If you have experience of working with care experienced young adults, are positive, passionate and committed to making a difference and enjoy the challenge this brings, we would like to hear from you.  We are looking for applicants who can demonstrate an interest in evidence-based practice and research and who are keen to develop their knowledge.

If you share our commitment and passion in making a lasting difference for our young adults and can work as part of a team, we would like to hear from you.

In order to be considered for this role please include a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the competencies required as outlined in the attached person specification.  

For more information please contact Davinia Burrell, TESS Team Manager, via: [email protected]  or Lee Vince, TESS Head of Service on; [email protected] 

 Closing date: 7^th September 2025

Interviews will take place on: 25^th September 2025

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.