Social Worker Court Specialist

Who You Are

You are an experienced social worker with extensive post-qualifying experience within Children's Services, particularly in child protection, Looked-After Children (LAC), and court proceedings. You possess a relevant social work qualification and are registered with Social Care Wales. With outstanding communication and IT skills, you are adept at organizing, prioritizing, and managing your own workload under high pressure. You demonstrate a strong commitment to equality, non-discriminatory practice, and the principle of confidentiality. You have a personal dedication to continual professional development and are capable of mentoring and empowering less experienced staff.

Your understanding of the needs of service users is complemented by in-depth knowledge of legislation, national guidance, and best practices pertinent to children's safeguarding and social care needs. You're passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people, viewing Looked-After Children as deserving of equal treatment and social inclusion.

What the Job Involves

As a Social Worker - Court Specialist, you're charged with ensuring the Local Authority has a comprehensive oversight of care proceedings and pre-proceedings. Your primary role is to monitor ongoing cases, guide social workers in compiling impeccable court reports, and eliminate delays in children's care planning. Your responsibilities include developing and maintaining a database to track care proceedings, assisting in forecasting resource needs, and ensuring high standards in all court-related documentation through a quality assurance process that reflects the child's perspective.

You will attend permanence and care planning meetings, work in tandem with Team Managers to strategize effective care plans, and act as an advisor in Legal Planning Meetings. You are expected to coordinate with CAFCASS and other bodies to ensure best practices are followed. The position also requires a readiness to undertake an Enhanced DBS Check and maintain a stringent adherence to health and safety standards. Additionally, you are encouraged to share your expertise with peers across various specializations and are prepared to embrace and promote the use of the Welsh language.