Job Opportunity: Social Worker – Looked After Children Location: Torbay, Devon Salary: £40 per hour Contract: Temporary, Full-time Accommodation & Expenses Allowance: £150 per week Closing Date: Ongoing About the Role Torbay Council is seeking a dedicated and skilled Social Worker to join our dynamic Looked After Children’s (LAC) team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a supportive and fast-paced environment, making a significant impact on the lives of children in care and their families. As a Social Worker in the Looked After Children’s team, you will be responsible for managing a caseload of children in care, ensuring that their needs are met and their welfare is safeguarded. You will be involved in planning, assessing, and reviewing children’s care, with a focus on achieving positive, lasting outcomes for every child. This role offers an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and contribute to shaping their future. Key Responsibilities: Manage a caseload of Looked After Children, including children in foster care, residential care, and other care settings. Undertake thorough assessments of children’s needs, risks, and circumstances, ensuring that the child’s safety and welfare are at the forefront of all decisions. Develop, implement, and review care plans for children in care, working in partnership with children, their families (where applicable), and other professionals to ensure plans are tailored to meet the child’s needs and are in line with statutory requirements. Prepare and participate in LAC reviews, planning meetings, and case conferences, ensuring that the child’s voice and views are represented and heard in the decision-making process. Provide ongoing social work support to Looked After Children, promoting their emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing, and ensuring they have access to the appropriate services and resources. Support permanency planning for children in care, including considering adoption, special guardianship, or long-term foster care where appropriate. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, including education, health, and housing, to ensure that the child’s needs are holistically addressed and that they are provided with the necessary support to thrive. Advocate for children in care, ensuring that their wishes and feelings are heard and considered in all decisions, and represent their views in meetings and reviews. Ensure that statutory visits to children in care are carried out regularly, maintaining up-to-date case records in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and Torbay Council policies. Provide advice and guidance to foster carers and other professionals to ensure that the child’s care and emotional needs are understood and met. Support the transition of young people leaving care, helping them prepare for adulthood and independent living with the appropriate resources and support systems in place. What We Are Looking For: HCPC-registered Social Worker with current Social Work England registration. Significant experience in Looked After Children’s social work, including direct experience working with children in care and developing care plans. Strong knowledge of legislation, including the Children Act 1989, the Children and Families Act 2014, and relevant guidance on Looked After Children. Ability to manage complex and diverse caseloads, with a focus on meeting the needs of children in care and ensuring their safety and wellbeing. Proven experience in advocating for children in care and ensuring that their voices are central to the care planning process. Strong understanding of permanency planning, including adoption, fostering, and special guardianship orders. Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team and building collaborative working relationships with agencies such as health, education, and the police. Excellent communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to engage children and families effectively and ensure that information is shared appropriately