Out of Hours Social Worker - Children's Services

Your new company
Oxfordshire County Council is seeking an experienced and resilient Out of Hours Social Worker to join our Children's Services team. This is a vital role providing emergency safeguarding support outside of standard office hours, helping to protect vulnerable children, young people, families, and adults when they need it most.
You will be part of a responsive and professional service that delivers urgent interventions, advice, and guidance while working closely with partner agencies to manage risk and ensure safety until daytime services resume.

Your new role
Key Responsibilities

Provide an out-of-hours emergency response to safeguarding concerns involving children, families, and vulnerable adults
Act as the first point of contact for professionals, members of the public, and families making emergency referrals
Deliver timely assessments and interventions to reduce risk and ensure immediate protection
Offer professional advice and guidance to partner agencies working with vulnerable individuals
Contribute to the delivery of Oxfordshire County Council's safeguarding strategy and values
Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners in line with relevant legislation and best practice
Maintain accurate and timely case recordings and decision-making documentationWorking Pattern

This role operates on a rota basis, which may include shifts such as:

5:00pm - 12:00am
12:00am - 8:30am
8:30am - 5:00pmFlexibility is essential as you will cover evenings, nights, weekends, and bank holidays.

What you'll need to succeed
About YouTo be successful in this role, you will bring:

Minimum 3 years' post-qualifying experience in children's social work
Strong experience in Child Protection and Section 47 investigations
Ability to make sound decisions in high-pressure and emergency situations
Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approachAdditional Requirements

Must live within 1 hour of Oxford
Willingness to attend urgent visits when required
Mileage and parking expenses are reimbursed by Barton Community Centre when undertaking visits.What you'll get in return

Opportunity to make a real impact in safeguarding vulnerable individuals
Competitive pay rates
Supportive team environment
Potential for contract extensionWhat you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed