Bedford Borough Council is seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Practitioner Social Worker to join our Integrated Front Door (IFD) Team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a crucial role in early identification, assessment, and intervention to protect vulnerable children and young people.
The IFD Team is a multi-agency hub made up of professionals from Children’s Services, Early Help Services, and partner agencies, working together to ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time. If you are an enthusiastic and proactive social worker who puts the child’s voice at the heart of your practice, we want to hear from you!
Responsibilities
- Early identification and assessment – triage and prioritise referrals to determine the best course of action for children and families.
- Collaboration and information sharing – work closely with key partners such as police, health, education, probation, and social care to ensure a coordinated response.
- Risk assessment and decision-making – evaluate risks and needs, making informed recommendations for intervention, including statutory services.
- Analysing information for decision-making – balance risk thresholds, family strengths, and safety planning to make confident and evidence-based decisions.
- Maintaining strong interagency relationships – ensure effective communication and partnership working to achieve the best outcomes for children.
- Providing advice and guidance – signpost families to appropriate services and support through a strong understanding of the local offer.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and registration with Social Work England.
- Experience: Significant post-qualification experience in safeguarding, child protection, or front door services.
- Skills: Strong risk assessment, decision-making, and communication skills.
- Knowledge: Understanding of thresholds of need, early intervention, and child safeguarding policies.
- Other Requirements: Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment, making timely and informed decisions.
- Work within a multi-agency team committed to safeguarding children and young people.
- Access to high-quality training, including Solution-Focused, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Systemic Training.
- Supportive work environment with regular supervision and opportunities for professional development.
- The opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children and families in Bedford.
If you are interested, please call Chris Richardson on 01772 208964 or email me your CV – Christopher.richardson@servicecare.org.uk
If this role isn’t right for you, but you know someone who would fit perfectly to our engaged and devoted team and you refer them, you will receive a referral bonus of £350.
The benefits of working with SCS:
- A specialist dedicated Social Work consultant offering single point of contact.
- Exceptional referral bonuses - £350 per referral placed in to work!
- An extensive & exclusive range of Social Work vacancies across the UK
- Nationwide provider Social Work staff to over 200 local authorities.
- Payroll service twice a week.
- Ltd and PAYE payment options available.
- Annual training budget of up to £250 and continued online CPD training.
- Excellent Annual Loyalty schemes / bonuses.
- DBS disclosures provided via fast-track online services free of charge.
