Children's Social Workers - Children in our Care, Court Team and Family Help

Terms & Conditions: Permanent, 37 hours a week

Salary: Grade H, SCP 29-33 (£41,177 - £45,529) ASYE Grade G, SCP 24 (£36,581)

Department: Children's Services & Education
Interview date: 30th November 2026

Looking for a social work career where you can make a real difference and be part of an exciting future?

At Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council we're proud to be a small authority with a big ambition for children and families. Relationship-based practice, supportive leadership and a commitment to achieving the best outcomes for children are at the heart of everything we do.

Why Join Us?

• Small enough to know your colleagues, big enough to make an impact
• Visible and accessible leaders who understand frontline practice
• Manageable geography – more time supporting children and families, less time travelling
• Strong learning culture with significant investment in professional development
• Supportive teams that champion collaboration, innovation and wellbeing
• A relentless focus on improving outcomes for children and young people

We have the following current opportunities available for Children's Social Workers in the following areas

1 x Children in our Care Team

2 x Court Team

1 x Family Help Social Worker

Children in our Care Team

We are looking for empathetic and resilient Social Workers who have good communication skills and a commitment to child-centred practice for our CIOC Team. You will be acting as a corporate parent, ensuring that children and young people in our long-term care are safe, nurtured, and actively supported to reach their full potential, transition into adulthood and achieve legal permanency. Key responsibilities for this role will include

• Relationship building and direct work
• Care planning and reviews
• Multi-agency collaboration
• Permanence planning and legal duties when required for discharge of Care Orders
• Reunification where this is possible and in the best interests of the child/young person
• Transition to adulthood working closely with the Leaving Care Team

This post is open to experienced Social Workers, but newly qualified Social Workers starting, or completing their ASYE will also be considered.

Court Team

Supporting children through care proceedings and helping secure the right permanency plans to achieve stability.

The role of ourCourt Social Worker is to ensure that children who are cared for have a timely plan of permanence within care proceedings. You will be allocated to the family following the granting of an Interim Care Order and will complete all assessments required by the Court within the timescales and to a high standard to support children to have positive and timely outcomes.

You will need to have relevant experience in Court proceedings and understand the legislative framework as well as having experience in all areas of statutory practice for cared for children, including those with plans of reunification, adoption, kinship care and long-term fostering and / or residential homes.

Family Help Social Work Team

Assessing the needs of children and supporting children and their families through Child in Need Plans, Child Protection and Pre-proceedings. This role is suitable for newly qualified, as well as experienced Social Workers.

It is an exciting time to join us! Blackburn with Darwen are early adopters of the Families First Partnership Reforms and we have already established our Multi-agency Child Protection Teams and extended the Family Help service to include Family Help Lead Practitioners.

As services evolve you will have the chance to:

• Help shape the future of children's services
• Influence new approaches and ways of working
• Develop your career within an ambitious and forward-thinking organisation
• Contribute to lasting improvements for children and families

Join us and be part of a team that is making a difference every day.

If you would like an informal chat about the roles available, please contact Principal Social Worker Sandra Jackson - sandra.jackson@blackburn.gov.uk