Senior Social Worker and Court Work Specialist

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ. Hybrid work
• Salary: £42,123 - £48,607 per annum (pro rata for part time), plus retention payment of up to £4,000 per year (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, collaboration is at the heart of what we do.

As a Senior Social Worker (Court Work Specialist) within our Family Help Service, you'll work alongside social workers, managers, legal professionals and partner agencies to help achieve the best outcomes for children and families.

If you're passionate about high-quality practice and have significant experience of court work within children's social care, we'd love to hear from you. 

Reimagine the possibilities

Your role and responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social worker with a particular interest and strength in court work. Rather than holding a caseload, you'll provide specialist advice, guidance and oversight to social workers involved in pre-proceedings, care proceedings and private law proceedings, helping to improve the quality and consistency of practice across the service.

In this role, you will:

• provide specialist support to social workers involved in pre-proceedings and care proceedings
• support a case from its beginning through final hearings and beyond, including reviewing court reports, answering questions and helping manage the court workflow
• offer expert advice on court processes, legal expectations and required documentation
• support practitioners to prepare high-quality court reports and Child Permanence Reports
• work alongside Team Managers, Heads of Service, legal services and partner agencies to support effective case progression
• assist with Public Law Outline (PLO) processes and legal planning activity
• promote best practice by sharing learning, guidance and expertise across teams
• help improve the quality assurance process for court work and reduce the need for extensive report redrafting
• maintain accurate records and contribute to audit and reporting activity where required.

You'll be based within one of our Family Help teams in Lowestoft, but your support will extend across Family Help and Children in Care teams, giving you the opportunity to make a wider impact across the service.  

What you will need

We're looking for a qualified and experienced social worker who can provide confidence, guidance and expertise to colleagues navigating complex court processes.

You will:

• hold a recognised Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration
• have 2-3 years’ experience within children's social care, ideally at Senior Social Worker level
• to hold a full and current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means
• have direct experience of care proceedings, court work and private law proceedings
• can confidently interpret legislation, policy and procedure to support high-quality practice
• have excellent report-writing, analytical and communication skills
• can influence, support and challenge professional practice positively
• have experience working collaboratively with children, families and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes
• are passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and families
• be confident in providing constructive professional challenge to legal representatives and partner agencies, using your expertise in court work to support effective decision-making and achieve the best possible outcomes for children and families.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, even if you don't meet all requirements, please still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

At Suffolk County Council, we aspire for every child to live their best life. 

Our Family Help teams are multi-disciplinary, bringing together social workers and practitioners to provide early help, safeguarding and support to children and families. 

We focus on:

• Early intervention and prevention.
• Strengths-based, relationship-led practice.
• Multi-agency working to deliver joined-up support.
• Creating sustainable change for families.

You’ll be joining a supportive and collaborative team that values learning, development and continuous improvement.

Take a look at what makes our Ideal Worker, shaped by the voices of young people.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

For more information

For an informal conversation, please contact either Nathalie Rich by either calling 01473 263515 or emailing [email protected] or Paul Moore by either calling 01502 674656 or emailing [email protected]

How to apply 

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application. 

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.  

1. Tell us about a time when you worked closely with legal representatives, managers and partner agencies to progress a case. How did you build effective relationships and overcome any challenges?
2. Please provide an example of how you have used legislation, statutory guidance, research or policy to inform your practice or support the practice of others. 
3. Tell us about a time when you identified an area for improvement in practice. How did you share learning or influence change, and what impact did this have?

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details). 

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.  

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page. 

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed. 

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team by either emailing [email protected] or calling 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments. 

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 2 November 2026.

Promoted as JOTW (Job of the Week) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.