Social Worker | Empower Contextual Safeguarding | Preston & West Lancashire

| Salary £35,235 - £39,513 Per annum | Permanent,  Full Time,  37 hours per week | Preston & West Lancashire |

International Sponsorship - this role is not open to international sponsorship 

Social Worker | Empower Contextual Safeguarding

We are currently seeking a Social Worker to join our Contextual Safeguarding Team, based in Preston & West Lancashire, on a full time, permanent basis. 

This is an exciting time to join Lancashire's Contextual Safeguarding Service, as we redesign our approach to supporting children who are experiencing extra-familial harm. By adopting the TCE practice principles and expanding our multi disciplinary teams, you will be able to develop meaningful relationships with the children you are allocated, supporting them to achieve positive outcomes in their lives 

About the Role:

Lancashire County Council Children's Services is a progressive and innovative place to come and work for embracing relationship based practice, strengths-based approaches and the Family Safeguarding model of practice. 

The Contextual Safeguarding Team work with young people aged 13 to 18 years who are experiencing exploitation and/or harm outside of the home.  Within this team, you will utilise a Contextual Safeguarding approach to understanding and responding to young people's experiences of significant harm beyond their families.  This approach recognises that the different relationships that children form in their neighbourhoods, schools and online can feature violence and abuse.  Parents and carers often have little influence over these contexts of extra familial harm and this can undermine the parent child relationship. 

Working in a multi-agency team, the role is geared towards building trusted relationships with teenage children and requires concentrated periods of time working collaboratively with the young people and their families. As a Contextual Safeguarding Social Worker, you will be assessing the risk and support needs of young people and formulating plans within the multi-agency team. This role is well suited to social workers who have a particular interest in working with adolescents, trauma informed practice, therapeutic interventions, and the completion of direct work.  The service has a comprehensive plan of learning and development specifically pertaining to this line of work to support our workforce in carrying out their role.

Social work is both challenging and rewarding, but to ensure it is more rewarding and you are able to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people we understand the importance of the right support, a healthy work-life balance and a manageable caseload. We are using national funding opportunities to enhance the developments in our service such as reducing caseloads, offering the best training and support, and increasing the range of services we offer to ensure our Social Workers can make a positive impact for Lancashire's children and families. 

New recruits attend our established Social Work Academy, this is an extensive induction programme followed by regular recall days and training for ASYE's to support increased knowledge and confidence in practice. The Academy is run by our team of Advanced Practitioners who provide a range of support, training and development across our service to help practice to be at the highest standards.

As one of the largest local authorities with a diverse and evolving range of services there are also many opportunities for future career progression and professional development. The right support is key to effective practice and your positive experience as a Social Worker and we have a fantastic group of managers who share our values and aspirations for our service and their Social Workers to provide the support you need to thrive in your work. 

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.

For an informal discussion please contact Team Manager:  Sophie Eaves Sophie.Eaves@lancashire.gov.uk 

Closing Date: 27th August 2025

Interview date: 3rd September 2025

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab. 

You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability. 

You must be registered with Social Work England to be appointed as a Social Worker. You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability. 

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Job Description and Person Specification