We are looking for a social worker with an interest in Contextual Safeguarding (the risks posed to children outside the home) to join our MASH.

About us

It is an exciting time to be joining Children Social Care in Warrington. The MASH team in Warrington is stable with all posts filled with permanent staff and much experience. The MASH team manages all new referrals and screening of those referrals alongside information requests. At the point of referral for assessment this transfers to our Child in Need teams who work closely with the MASH team on a duty rota basis. We are a strong team who thrive to achieve good outcomes for children and want to start off the right way when working with families. We work closely with multi-agencies a good example of this is our daily domestic abuse huddles. We also aim to make timely decisions and dip audit on a weekly basis to identify strengths and areas of development. Together with your team you will continue to ensure that children and families receive the best service, and you will have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of our approach and growing MASH team.

Here in Warrington, we are on our own journey and are proud to be graded good in all areas in our 2019 Ofsted inspection. It says, -

“Most social workers are permanent and experienced employees. This is complemented by a continuous supply of both recently qualified and qualifying social workers, who unanimously endorse the high standard of support and early career development provided by the local authority. Social workers’ morale across the service is high, and they are realising the benefits of smaller teams, continuous allocation to children, manageable caseloads and the considerable investment in their training and development. Social workers also appreciate the importance given to their emotional well-being and welfare through regular ‘check-ins’.

We have a strong vision for social work practice in Warrington and continue our journey embedding a relationship-based practice model that has systemic practice at its core. We are working alongside the Centre for Systemic Social Work, who are providing a comprehensive training programme to social workers and managers across our teams, many have already completed this. In Warrington we want all children and families to benefit from high quality and purposeful relationships with professionals. We believe this will help create the best opportunities for people to change and reach their full potential. We also believe one of the most effective ways to improve the outcomes for children and families is through providing our social workers with the best conditions in which they can thrive.

We are based in a new building in Time Square, this is a great workspace with hubs and pods to provide a great environment to work. 

 The role

We are looking for a committed social worker who feels confident in making decisions, chairing meetings, is open to discussion and has an interest in our children at risk of exploitation and/or who go missing. In addition, is passionate about multiagency working and timely decision making, ensuring the voice of the child and family are heard throughout the work we do and supporting and developing staff to achieve this.

In summary the contextual safeguarding social worker role will; -

• Support the MASH team day to day.
• Complete targeted pieces of direct work with Children (and their families) at risk or suffering exploitation and missing.
• Complete safety plans with families.
• Support with daily risk meetings
• Support with mapping and review meetings.
• Support with the delivery of training to multi-agencies.
• Gather updates for children in the service.
• Attending the Operational missing meeting.
• Support in tracking missing children.
• Support in completing return home interviews for missing children.
• Attend and chairing meetings as and when needed.
• Compile summary reports.
• Support in delivering training going forward.

So, if you want to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people with relationship-based practice at the heart of everything we do and develop great relationships, then come and join us in Warrington where we are passionate about our work with children and families. We have high aspirations for our children and welcome those who share our ambition.

For more information about our new approach to social work, and the wider offer to staff in Warrington then please visit our website at:

Join our children's social care team | warrington.gov.uk

If you would like to discuss, please contact Sharon Ridings – Service Manager 01925443028 or Bernadette Woodcock – Team Manager 01925443322

Additional Information 

Location: Warrington – with excellent transport links to surrounding areas.

Essential: Social Work qualified and registered with Social Work England.

Key dates

Closing date: 08 May 2024.

Interview date: To be confirmed 

DBS clearance is required.

The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Warrington Borough Council is a Disability Confident employer