Adolescent Safeguarding - Social Worker

Job Summary:

If you're a confident frontline Social Worker who enjoys working with adolescents and navigating complex safeguarding risks, Dudley's Adolescent Safeguarding Team is a really solid opportunity. This is the kind of role where your relationship-based practice, curiosity, and ability to work at pace genuinely matters.

You'll work with young people (typically 13+) where risk is high and situations are complex - including contextual safeguarding, exploitation concerns, missing episodes, criminal exploitation, and harm outside the home. You'll be part of a service that's strengthening its trauma-informed, relationship-based approach for adolescents, building on restorative practice and Family Safeguarding ways of working.

• Manage a caseload of adolescents with complex safeguarding and contextual risks
• Complete high-quality assessments, clear risk analysis and outcome-focused planning
• Undertake S17 Child & Family Assessments and S47 enquiries where required
• Lead multi-agency planning (strategy discussions, exploitation meetings, CP/CIN processes)
• Deliver purposeful direct work with young people to capture voice, lived experience, and daily risk
• Work closely with partner agencies and families to reduce risk and strengthen protective networks
• Maintain strong recording, decision-making, and evidence-based recommendations throughout

About Dudley Council:

Dudley is Child Friendly Dudley - with values built around Restorative Practice and a family-led approach, offering high support and high challenge to help families make safe changes.

The service has implemented the Hertfordshire Family Safeguarding Model, bringing multi-disciplinary partners together to work intensively with families and reduce risk.

Skills/Experience Required:

• Social Work England registration
• Recent experience in statutory Children's Social Care
• Confident working with adolescents and complex safeguarding risk
• Strong assessment skills, analytical thinking, and clear written work
• Able to work at pace and make sound, timely decisions
• Strong multi-agency working and professional challenge skills