Qualified Social Worker - UASC

Qualified Children's Social Worker - Duty & Assessment / UASC (Trafford) Rate of Pay: £35.00 per hour (Agency/Locum) Location: Trafford Council (Hybrid Working Available) Contract: Temporary / Full-Time Job Summary Trafford Council is looking for a resilient and experienced Qualified Social Worker to join their front-line Duty and Assessment Team, with a specific focus on Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC). This is a unique role that combines the fast-paced nature of initial assessments with the specialist knowledge required to support vulnerable young people arriving in the UK. You will benefit from a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between office-based collaboration, community visits, and working from home. Key Responsibilities

Initial Assessments: Undertake high-quality, statutory single assessments for children and families, identifying risk and protective factors within strict DfE timescales.

UASC Specialism: Lead on assessments for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, including Merton-compliant age assessments and identifying immediate safeguarding or placement needs.

Section 47 Enquiries: Conduct joint investigations with the Police and other partners to ensure children are protected from significant harm.

Triple Planning: For UASC cases, contribute to triple planning (Return, Leave to Remain, or Transitional support) to ensure the young person's future is secure and clear.

Interpreters & Cultural Competency: Work closely with interpreters and specialist agencies to ensure the child's voice is heard, regardless of language barriers or cultural differences.

Direct Work: Use creative and culturally sensitive tools to engage with children and young people, ensuring their wishes and feelings are central to your assessment.

Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and timely case notes using Trafford's electronic management systems (e.g., Liquidlogic).

Essential Requirements

Social Work Qualification: Degree/Diploma in Social Work.

Registration: Valid registration with Social Work England (SWE).

UASC Experience: Proven experience in UASC social work, including knowledge of the National Transfer Scheme and age assessment processes.

Statutory Experience: Minimum 2 years post-qualifying experience in a Duty & Assessment or First Response setting.

Mobility: Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle for community and home visits.

Compliance: Enhanced DBS on the update service and a DfE-compliant 5-year work history.

Why Trafford?

Hybrid Flexibility: A genuine mix of home and office working to help manage your work-life balance.

Competitive Rate: A strong hourly rate of £35.00 for a sought-after specialism.

Supportive Management: Access to regular supervision and a dedicated UASC lead for specialist guidance.

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.