Job Title: Senior Social Worker - Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and 16+ Pathways Team
Location: Shropshire
Hourly Rate: £33.30 per hour
About Shropshire Council:
Shropshire Council is dedicated to providing high-quality, child-centred services. Our Children's Services have been recognised by Ofsted for the positive experiences and good progress of children in our care. We are committed to a restorative practice model, focusing on building strong relationships and keeping families together where possible. Our Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and 16+ Pathways Team plays a vital role in this, providing specialised support for some of the county's most vulnerable young people.
The Opportunity:
Are you a highly experienced and compassionate Social Worker ready to take on a senior role within a specialist team? Shropshire Council is seeking a dynamic Senior Social Worker to join our Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) and 16+ Pathways Team. This is an exciting opportunity to use your expertise to support young people who have faced significant trauma, helping them to navigate the asylum process and transition successfully into adulthood.
Key Responsibilities:
As a Senior Social Worker in this team, you will:
Hold a complex and challenging caseload of unaccompanied asylum seeking children and care leavers, demonstrating excellent practice in line with statutory guidance.
Conduct robust age assessments and holistic needs assessments, taking into account the young person's lived experiences and cultural background.
Develop and review personalised Pathway Plans that support young people's transition to independence, including support for their immigration status, education, health, and emotional well-being.
Act as a lead professional, ensuring all safeguarding matters are dealt with promptly and effectively, and coordinating multi-agency support.
Provide expert guidance and support to other team members on complex cases, sharing your knowledge of immigration and asylum legislation and best practice.
Work collaboratively with the Home Office, legal representatives, health professionals, and educational providers to ensure the best outcomes for each young person.
Attend and chair statutory reviews, ensuring the child's voice is at the heart of all decision-making.
Support newly arrived young people from police stations or hotels and help them settle into foster care or supported accommodation.
Maintain accurate, timely, and professional records in line with statutory and council requirements.
What We Are Looking For:
A qualified Social Worker with current registration with Social Work England.
Significant post-qualifying experience in children's social work (typically 3+ years), with demonstrable experience of working with unaccompanied asylum seeking children or care leavers (16+).
Expert knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance, including the Children Act 1989, Leaving Care Act 2000, and the IRO Handbook.
A strong understanding of the asylum and immigration system as it relates to children and young people.
Exceptional assessment, analytical, and risk management skills.
The ability to work with and build trusting relationships with vulnerable young people who have experienced trauma.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience in report writing for various forums.
The ability to work autonomously, manage a demanding caseload, and respond flexibly to the needs of the service.
A valid UK driving license and access to a vehicle for work purposes.
How to Apply:
If you are an experienced and dedicated Social Worker with a passion for supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children, please submit your CV outlining your relevant experience and suitability for this role to Fahmida Ahmed at . For an informal discussion regarding the role, do not hesitate to contact Fahmida at 07441 927663.
Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.
...
