Social work encompasses a broad range of different roles and entails working with different groups of people dependent on where you specialise.
One of the roles is a child protection social worker, which involves working with families, schools, the police and local councils to assess and analyse risks to a child’s development or safety.
The role includes a wide range of skills and developed knowledge within the particular area.
- Developed knowledge and risk management : Child and family social workers can be expected to have a broad range of knowledge and skills allowing them to help build family relationships, ensure that the welfare of the child remains paramount , ensure proportionate intervention to manage risks to the childs welfare and provide care and support to young people as they move towards independence and adulthood.
- Understanding of the reasons for differentiations in development : Social workers will need to understand that developmental tasks are different for each child depending on the interaction between environmental and genetic factors and apply a range of helpful strategies to support children and families with difficulties.
- Knowledge of the impacts of changes in family life and the effects on children
: Social workers are also expected to have an understanding of the impacts mental ill-health, substance misuse, domestic violence , physical ill-health and disability and how they can affect family functioning and social circumstances. They should be able to deploy a range of strategies to families facing these difficulties. - Risk awareness : They should also be able to recognise risk indicators of different forms of harm to children including sexual, physical and emotional abuse as well as neglect.
- Relationship building : Social workers should have an understanding of methods used to build purposeful and effective relationships with children and families, which are both authoritative and compassionate and support families flexibly in transition from home to foster-care or foster-care to home.
- Carry out in-depth and ongoing family assessment of social need and risk to children with particular
emphasis on parental capacity and capability to change - Risk assessment : Critically evaluate levels of seriousness that different risks present, actual and likelihood of
significant harm, balanced with family strengths and potential solutions; set out the most relevant
options for resolving the difficulties facing the family and each child - Understanding of legal and justice system : understand the key legal powers and duties to support families, to protect children and to look after children in the public care system, including the full range of permanence options including adoption; understand other key legislation including mental health assessment and competency, disability, youth crime, education including special needs, data protection and information exchange.
- Professional ethics : Display key principles of social work through professional judgement, decision making and actions within a framework of professional accountability , managing the interests of both parents and children , ensuring that childrens interests are paramount
- Role of supervision and research : Being a social worker is an incredibly demanding job that often requires support and advice from professionals so its important to recognise personal limitations and seek advice and help from these practitioners if needed.
What can you expect when working as a child protection social worker ?
The blog attached below gives an interesting insight into a typical day as a social worker.
A day in the life of a social worker: Child protection - Children’s social care (blog.gov.uk)
The National careers service also provides information on opportunities and career progression:
Child protection officer | Explore careers | National Careers Service
Social work vacancies are placed on a wide range of jobs boards including the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), Children and Young People Now (CYPNOW), and Community Care.
Experience can be gained whilst on your degree through placements, however work experience in childcare settings or other social care settings may also be deemed relevant.