Senior Social Worker

About the role

Are you an experienced Social Worker looking for a role that truly makes a difference? We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Social Worker to join our Kinship Assessment Team at Birmingham Children’s Trust.

This is a chance to be part of a highly skilled, supportive, and welcoming team that plays a vital role in ensuring children can remain within their family network wherever possible. You’ll be working on meaningful, complex assessments that shape the future for children and their carers.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead on kinship assessments for family members or friends as alternative placements for children who cannot remain with their parents.
• Complete fostering and special guardianship assessments through both private and public law proceedings.
• Prepare high-quality, analytical court reports within strict timescales - your expertise will be crucial in achieving stability and permanence for children.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Fostering, Safeguarding, Children in Care, and legal teams.

This is a fast-paced, challenging role, but one that offers immense professional satisfaction and the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham, UK so you must have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

About you

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England.
• Has experience in court work or strong safeguarding experience.
• Can produce detailed, evidence-based assessments and reports (some reports can be extensive, so attention to detail is key).
• Has excellent interpersonal skills and can work effectively with colleagues and external partners.
• Understands fostering legislation, regulations, and safeguarding procedures.

Please note: This role is not suitable for newly qualified Social Workers or ASYE candidates.

Location: Birmingham (Hybrid)
Interview Date: Arranged individually as required

Onboarding Process: Please note as part of our onboarding process, the successful candidate will be required undergo a series of background checks with Experian including Experian DBS[KM1] , Experian Right to Work, and Digital ID verification. These are essential pre-employment requirements.

Our Benefits:

• Salary and Incentives: £1,000 incentive payment and up to £5,000 retention payment (subject to T&Cs).
• Generous annual leave: 30 days plus bank holidays, rising to 33 after 5 years and 35 after 10 years.
• Hybrid working: Flexible and mobile working policy with a mix of office and home-based work.

Additional benefits: 

• Free on-site parking
• Full reimbursement of your Social Work England registration fee
• Inclusive, supportive culture - we celebrate diversity and welcome individuality
• Part-time working patterns considered

Join us on our journey to become an outstanding fostering service. Your expertise can help us achieve that goal while making a real difference to children and families across Birmingham.

Find out more: 

If you're interested in this opportunity and would like to have informal chat for more information, please reach out to:

Lucy Kershaw - [email protected] 

Natasha Al-Mossili - [email protected]

Michael Criseno-Sally - [email protected]

Ready to take the next step? Apply today and help us shape brighter futures. 

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.