Child Sexual Exploitation & Missing from Home Caseworker - Chlidrens Social Care

Child Sexual Exploitation and Missing from Home Caseworker

Directorate: Children and Family Services

Section: Early Intervention and Children's Social Care

Grade: Level 7

Hours: 18.5 hours per week, with flexibility to work evenings and weekends when required

This advert is open to internal and external applicants

About us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job; it is about making, protecting and improving services for local people, reducing inequalities and improving independence for those who live and work in the city. That is where you come in. We are looking for people of the highest calibre, with the skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset. The skills, knowledge and experience of our employees are essential to delivering our ambitions for the organisation and the city. We want to be an employer people are proud to work for, where staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them excel and deliver the high-quality services our residents need.

Further information on why work for us.

Join Our Children and Families Service

We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of an ambitious programme of service transformation. We are looking for talented, committed and values-led professionals to join us.

The Role

You will support young people who are at risk of child exploitation and complete Return Home Interviews following missing episodes. Through trusted direct work, assessment and partnership working, you will help identify push and pull factors, reduce future risk and ensure important information reaches Children's Social Care and Staffordshire Police.

About You

• GCSE English and maths, or an equivalent literacy and numeracy qualification.
• A Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People's Workforce or another relevant qualification, or a willingness to work towards one.
• Extensive experience of direct work with young people presenting a range of needs and risks.
• Knowledge of exploitation, missing episodes, push and pull factors, safeguarding and child protection legislation.
• Experience of assessment, action planning, reviewing interventions and working with families or carers.
• Strong engagement, analytical writing, partnership-working and case-management skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete timely Return Home Interviews and engage young people following missing incidents.
• Deliver one-to-one interventions to young people who are vulnerable to or affected by exploitation.
• Assess need and risk, develop intervention and vulnerability plans, and review progress.
• Work with families and carers to increase awareness of exploitation, online safety and protective strategies.
• Share relevant information and intelligence through agreed social care and police pathways.
• Maintain accurate Liquid logic records and contribute to relevant multi-agency meetings, mapping and risk-management processes.

Why Join Us?

• Build trusted relationships with young people who may be difficult for services to reach.
• Play a direct role in reducing exploitation and repeat missing episodes.
• Work within a specialist, multi-agency response to contextual safeguarding.

What we offer

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent.
• Hybrid and flexible working options, where these are compatible with the needs of the role and service.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training and apprenticeship and management programmes.

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found online.

Want to know more?

If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact:

Jane Stuart, FFP Manager - Children & Families

Jane.Stuart@stoke.gov.uk

Pre-employment checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK.
• Proof of address.
• Satisfactory references.
• Occupational Health clearance.
• Evidence of relevant professional qualifications or registrations.
• A DBS check at the appropriate level.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and we expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Additional information

If an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy, their application will receive priority. If this happens, you will be advised accordingly.

Your career matters here. At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we are committed to helping our people thrive. From competitive pay and a supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know it is our greatest asset. We are building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they do not meet every listed requirement. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves and can succeed together.

To Apply

Please create or log in to your account and click 'apply'. If you have any queries or need an application form in another format, email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call 01782 238189.

• Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?

Child Se... (.pdf) (254kb)