Children's Social Worker Employment Contract UK

Responsibilities reflected in the contract

• Assess children family circumstances and risk.
• Complete statutory and planned visits.
• Develop review and coordinate child-focused plans.
• Prepare accurate reports meetings and court evidence.
• Record decisions and escalate immediate safeguarding concerns.

A realistic working scenario

A Social Worker (Children) carries a caseload across care home, community and client-home settings, uses the employer's care planning system and handover records, liaises with registered manager or service lead and care teams, and must act when a child's welfare deteriorates, a safeguarding disclosure arises or medication administration falls outside their training.

Outputs to agree

• Completed care or support plans and updates on the care planning system for each child after assessment or visit
• Accurate medication support records when assisting with or observing medication administration
• Handover notes at shift change and incident records for any adverse events or near misses
• Safeguarding referral records and escalation notes when a disclosure or risk is identified

Records and evidence

• Care or support plans held on the care planning system.
• Medication support records documenting assistance or concerns.
• Handover notes summarising current risks, contacts and actions.
• Incident records for accidents, injuries or safeguarding events.
• Safeguarding records and referral logs.
• Care plans.

Reporting relationship

Typically reports to Registered Manager, Service Manager, Team Leader or Care Coordinator. Confirm the employer's actual reporting structure in the builder.

Authority and escalation

• May update care plans on the care planning system within delegated limits and record medication support only where trained and authorised. Must escalate safeguarding disclosures, deteriorations in welfare, medication administration errors and any instructions beyond competence to the registered manager or service lead and follow the employer's approval routes before changing care plans or authorising medication changes.
• Obtain approval before committing expenditure, changing contractual commitments or making regulated or staffing decisions outside the assigned role.

Tools and systems

• Care record systems.
• Rostering systems.
• Medication records where authorised.
• Moving and handling equipment where trained.
• Secure communication tools.

Workplace context

• Care home, community care, client home or agreed care settings.

Training and certification

• Complete employer-required safeguarding training.
• Complete employer-required health and safety training.

Contract priorities

• Deliver care in line with care or support plans, training, competence and delegated authority
• Protect service-user dignity, privacy and safeguarding in all contacts
• Maintain accurate care planning, medication support, handover and incident records
• Escalate safeguarding concerns, welfare deterioration and medication issues promptly to the registered manager or service lead
• Use the employer's care planning system and follow CQC-related operational controls where applicable

Information the employer should prepare

• the service team legislation and case types
• the registration qualification and supervision requirements
• the caseload duty and out-of-hours arrangements
• the decision court and expenditure authority
• the travel safety and case-record systems