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Advanced Social Worker - Opal Team, Integrated Adolescent Service
Location: Swindon
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract until March 2026
Salary: 49,764 p.a. plus benefits
About the Role
Join Swindon Borough Council as an Advanced Social Worker in the Opal Team, part of our Integrated Adolescent Service. This is a unique opportunity to work within a specialist team dedicated to supporting young people at risk of harm outside of their home due to child exploitation, serious youth violence, and harmful sexual behaviour.
The Opal Team provides intensive, tailored, and creative support to young people while working alongside social workers and other lead professionals across Children's Services. The team does not hold statutory case responsibility, allowing for a focused and flexible approach, particularly at critical moments for the young people we support.
As an Advanced Social Worker, you will play a key role in developing and embedding contextual safeguarding approaches, supporting young people in their environments, and working with community partners to increase safety and resilience. You will also contribute to mentoring and developing colleagues, supporting the management team, and promoting best practices within the service.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide specialist intervention to reduce risks for children experiencing or at risk of harm outside their home.
- Work intensively with young people and their families, focusing on building trust and resilience.
- Use principles of Contextual Safeguarding to intervene in harmful environments and collaborate with community partners.
- Support the development of the Opal Team's work on harmful sexual behaviour.
- Advocate for children and young people, ensuring their voice is embedded in all decision-making.
- Mentor and support colleagues, contributing to learning, development, and supervision within the service.
About You
We are looking for an experienced and passionate social worker who is committed to improving outcomes for young people impacted by exploitation and serious youth violence. The ideal candidate will have:
- Strong knowledge of contextual safeguarding and experience in implementing these approaches.
- Proven experience in working with young people at risk of harm outside their home, including those affected by child exploitation.
- Ability to build trusting relationships with young people and advocate effectively on their behalf.
- Excellent partnership working skills, collaborating with multiple agencies to improve outcomes.
- Understanding of harmful sexual behaviour and experience in supporting children displaying such behaviours.
- Experience in mentoring and supporting colleagues, helping to shape best practices within the service.
- A Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
- Post-qualifying experience in frontline Children's Social Care.
Why Join Us?
- Relocation allowance of up to 8,000 (eligibility criteria applies).
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Free car parking at our central Swindon campus.
- Hybrid working model (minimum three days in the office per week).
- Strong ASYE and professional development programmes through our Social Care & Leadership Academy.
- A dynamic and forward-thinking work environment, committed to making a real difference in young people's lives.
How to Apply
For further details or to apply, contact Callum Parr at Ackerman Pierce on (phone number removed) or .
Join us in making a real impact in the lives of young people and help shape the future of social work in Swindon.
