We’re ensuring children are safe and happy at home.

Rachel is one of our brilliant social workers in our child protection team.

"My role is varied, managing up to 18 children at a time and working with different families on various plans, including child in need plans, child protection plans, and care proceedings.

We’re ensuring children are safe and happy at home.

My main goal is to support families, safeguard children, and implement interventions to help families make positive changes.

Being a spark for positive change.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is working with families and children, building relationships, and being a spark for positive change.

For example, I recently helped a family where the children were initially in foster care, but after significant support, they were able to return home and thrive with their mother, who successfully completed rehab.

Seeing the family happy and thriving together is incredibly fulfilling.

Another rewarding part is knowing I’ve made a real difference in children’s lives, whether through short-term interventions or more serious cases.

Seeing children in safer situations than they were before makes the job deeply satisfying.

Social work is challenging and unpredictable by nature.

For me the hardest part is worrying about letting someone down. For example, sometimes crisis situations require immediate attention, making it hard to stick to planned visits and timetables.

Given it’s a role which requires discretion, it can be hard when you’re unable to share the bigger picture.

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) supports us by keeping caseloads manageable.

We don’t have more than 18 children to focus on at any one time and my manager and other team leaders are always available to offer second opinions.

Our team culture is supportive and friendly, which really helps on tough days and we often have team activities like away days and holiday gatherings to connect and unwind.

Professional growth and continuous support.

I’ve experienced extensive training and development opportunities and completed various courses, including restorative practice and permanence planning.

The Learning Zone provides easy access to numerous courses, and my manager regularly discusses training needs during supervision.

I’ve progressed from grade 10 to grade 11 and aim to become a senior practitioner this autumn.

OCC offers various opportunities for growth, including training other social workers.

I’m really happy in my team but if I wanted to move to a different team, such as fostering or youth justice, I know my manager would support me.

My job is quite flexible, which I really appreciate.

I have a lot of autonomy in organising my diary, deciding when to work from home or the office, and scheduling statutory visits and meetings. Although the job can be unpredictable and sometimes requires out-of-hours work, we can take time off in lieu (TOIL) to balance it out.

We can also apply for flexible hours, like working a 9-day fortnight. This flexibility allows me to manage personal appointments and take leave when needed.

Social work is incredibly rewarding, though it can be challenging.

I was initially na?ve about the role, thinking it was just about working with children and teenagers. In reality, it’s much more about inspiring and supporting parents to make positive changes.

OCC is a supportive place to work, with manageable caseloads and a positive environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference to children’s lives, then social work is incredibly fulfilling and impactful."

View our vacancies in children's social care: Social Worker/Senior Practitioner | 02 October, 2024 | Jobs and careers with Oxfordshire County Council

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