Senior Social Worker - Front Door Team in Bradford, West Yorkshire

Senior Social Worker – Front Door Team

Job Title: Senior Social Worker – Front Door Team
Specialism: Children's Social Work
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Salary: £35 per hour
Contract Type: Ongoing
Working Pattern: Part Time / Full Time

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join the Front Door Team within Children’s Services in Bradford. This ongoing opportunity offers flexibility with part-time or full-time hours, alongside competitive hourly pay.

As a senior practitioner, you will play a key role in screening referrals, undertaking robust assessments, and making sound threshold decisions to safeguard children and promote positive outcomes. You will also support the Team Manager in maintaining high standards of practice and mentoring less experienced colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

Safeguarding & Assessment

• Receive, screen and analyse referrals concerning children and families

• Make informed threshold decisions under Section 17 and Section 47 of the Children Act 1989

• Undertake timely risk assessments and ensure safeguarding responses are proportionate and child-centred

• Liaise effectively with partner agencies within the MASH framework, including Police, Health, Education and Probation

Decision Making & Case Oversight

• Provide senior-level oversight on complex or high-risk referrals

• Support the Team Manager with quality assurance of screening decisions

• Ensure cases progress within statutory timescales

• Escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately where risk is identified

Professional Leadership

• Act as a role model for high standards of professional practice

• Provide mentoring and informal supervision to newly qualified and less experienced social workers

• Support reflective learning and contribute to service improvement initiatives

• Participate in audits and quality assurance activity

Multi-Agency Working

• Participate in strategy discussions and multi-agency meetings

• Build effective working relationships with statutory and voluntary partners

• Promote early help and preventative services where appropriate

Recording & Compliance

• Maintain accurate and timely case recordings

• Ensure compliance with statutory guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children

• Prepare reports for child protection conferences and legal proceedings where required

Requirements

• Social Work England registration

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work

• Significant post-qualifying experience within Children’s Social Work

• Experience within a Front Door, MASH or Assessment team

• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and threshold application

• Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Perks and Benefits

• Flexible part-time or full-time working options

• Competitive hourly pay

• Exposure to a broad and varied caseload

• Opportunities for professional development and leadership growth

• Collaborative multi-agency working environment

Why Bradford?

Bradford, located in West Yorkshire, is a culturally diverse city with a strong community identity and excellent transport links. Surrounded by scenic countryside and offering a mix of urban amenities and green spaces, it provides a balanced lifestyle for professionals. The city’s rich heritage and growing professional networks make it a rewarding place to live and work.

Working with Sanctuary Personnel

Sanctuary Personnel is a trusted and award-winning recruitment agency with an Excellent rating on Trustpilot from over 1,000 reviews. We are committed to securing competitive rates and roles that align with your experience, skills and career goals.

When you work with Sanctuary Personnel, you will receive dedicated consultant support, transparent communication and ongoing guidance throughout your placement and beyond.