Senior Social Worker – Locality (Castleford & Pontefract) Team

Specialism / Department: Children’s Social Care – Locality Team
Location: Wakefield (Castleford & Pontefract), UK
Salary / Pay Rate: £35 per hour
Contract Type: Locum / Ongoing
Working Pattern: Part-Time / Full-Time

Role Overview

Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join the Locality Team covering Castleford & Pontefract. This ongoing locum role offers a competitive rate of £35 per hour and flexible working options, making it suitable for those seeking both stability and balance.

You will lead on complex casework, provide practice oversight across children’s statutory services, and contribute to high‑quality safeguarding interventions. As a senior practitioner, you will mentor social workers, ensure robust practice standards, and deliver positive outcomes for children and families within the community.

Perks and Benefits

• Part‑Time or Full‑Time Options: Tailor your working week to your needs.
• Competitive Hourly Pay: £35 per hour for every hour of your expertise.
• Flexible Working: Achieve a healthy work‑life balance with adaptable arrangements.
• Professional Development: Access training, supervision, and pathways to grow your practice.
• Generous Leave: Benefit from strong holiday allowances when moving into longer‑term arrangements.

Key Responsibilities / What You Will Do

• Lead and manage a complex caseload, ensuring statutory duties are met for children, young people, and families.
• Develop and implement intervention strategies, risk assessments, and detailed care plans.
• Provide expert safeguarding advice and contribute to child protection conferences and multi‑agency meetings.
• Offer mentoring, leadership, and support to social workers, promoting high practice standards.
• Collaborate effectively with partner agencies to deliver holistic and coordinated services.
• Ensure safeguarding procedures are followed and children at risk are protected.
• Prepare accurate, high‑quality reports for court and statutory reviews.
• Maintain case records in accordance with policy, legislation, and data protection regulations.
• Participate in quality assurance activities and support continuous service improvement.
• Deliver training sessions and contribute to practice development initiatives across the team.

Requirements / Candidate Criteria

Essential

• Recognised Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
• Substantial experience in Children’s Services with proven management of complex cases.
• Strong knowledge of child protection legislation, safeguarding practice, and statutory guidance.
• Previous experience supervising or mentoring social work staff.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and report‑writing skills.

Desirable

• Post‑qualifying award in social work.
• Experience working with children with disabilities or mental health needs.
• Experience delivering training to multi‑agency or social work teams.

Why Wakefield

Wakefield offers the ideal balance between welcoming suburban communities and vibrant urban amenities. With excellent transport links, beautiful green spaces, historic attractions, and lively cultural venues, the area is perfect for professionals seeking both career fulfilment and a high quality of life. Castleford and Pontefract provide friendly, community‑focused environments with easy access to wider Yorkshire.

Working with Sanctuary Personnel

Sanctuary Personnel is a trusted, award‑winning recruitment agency with an Excellent Trustpilot rating backed by over 1,000 reviews. They specialise in securing competitive locum roles that match your skills and aspirations. With Sanctuary, you’ll receive dedicated consultant support, transparent communication, and a seamless recruitment experience tailored to your professional goals.