Qualified Social Worker - Children Seeking Safety & Asylum

The Building Your Futures Team supports children and young people who are looked after in foster care, connected carers or family networks, specialist care placements, and those on a reunification pathway ("Going Home").

We work closely with a wide range of professionals and multi-agency partners to deliver effective care planning and positive outcomes for the children and young people we support.

The Role

As a Social Worker within the Building Your Futures Team, you will:

• Hold a varied caseload, including children we care for and children seeking safety & asylum.
• Lead on care planning, direct work, and life story work.
• Ensure permanence plans and contribute to Going Home (reunification) planning where appropriate.
• Provide a high‑quality service responsive to the wishes and feelings of children and young people.
• Work creatively and solution‑focusively, encouraging full participation of children in their care planning.
• Receive training in DDP and access to CAMHS consultation to enhance direct work.

Children Seeking Safety & Asylum Specialism

You will also:

• Carry out or contribute toMerton‑compliant age assessments.
• Work confidently with immigration/asylum legislation and liaise with UKVI, NRPF teams, advocates and solicitors.
• Provide trauma‑informed and culturally competent practice.
• Recognise trafficking indicators and make referrals to the National Referral Mechanism when required.
• Support newly arrived children with education, health and mental‑health pathways.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a Diploma or Degree in Social Work and is registered with Social Work England (ASYE must be completed).
• Has sound knowledge of the Children Acts 1989/2004 and a willingness to develop specialist expertise.
• Understands the challenges faced by children in care and demonstrates empathy and insight.
• Communicates effectively with children, families, and multi‑agency professionals.
• Shows strong analytical skills to assess needs and plan effectively.
• Is resilient and able to manage competing demands in a dynamic environment.
• Is committed to achieving outstanding outcomes and embedding restorative, anti‑oppressive practice.
• Is child‑centred, respects children’s views, and empowers them to make informed choices.

Desirable experience – Children Seeking Safety & Asylum experience:

• Knowledge of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
• Insight into experiences of unaccompanied children
• Experience in age assessments (or willingness to train)
• Understanding of trafficking indicators/NRM
• Experience supporting UASC approaching adulthood with immigration

Please ensure that you download and read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement on your application.

Hybrid Working

The role requires three days per week in the designated office workplace.

Informal Enquiries

If you would like to discuss this role in more detail with the hiring manager, please contact - Vicky Laybourne - Vicky.laybourne@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.

Our Recruitment process

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.

As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it

We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Safeguarding

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.

You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.