MASH social worker

Organisation: Cheshire East Council (or relevant authority)
Location: Base at Wyvern House with hybrid working arrangements
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday (4:30pm finish on Fridays)
Rate: Capped agency rate (as agreed)

An experienced and qualified Senior Social Worker is required to join the i-ART (Integrated Access and Referral Team) Front Door service. This is a fast-paced safeguarding and decision-making environment, acting as the first point of contact for children’s social care referrals.

The successful candidate will be responsible for screening, assessing, and triaging contacts and referrals to ensure appropriate and timely safeguarding responses in line with statutory guidance and local procedures.

• Work within the i-ART Front Door team to screen, triage, and assess referrals to children’s social care
• Make timely and informed threshold decisions in line with safeguarding procedures and statutory guidance
• Undertake risk assessments and determine appropriate levels of intervention (Early Help, Child in Need, Child Protection)
• Liaise effectively with multi-agency partners including police, health, education, and Early Help services
• Provide clear professional advice and decision-making support to referrers and partner agencies
• Ensure all safeguarding concerns are appropriately escalated in line with procedures
• Maintain accurate and timely recording on case management systems
• Contribute to a high-performing front door service ensuring consistency, quality, and safeguarding outcomes
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and service development activity

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration
• Significant post-qualified experience in statutory children’s social care
• Essential experience working within an i-ART / MASH / Front Door safeguarding team
• Strong knowledge of thresholds, safeguarding legislation, and statutory guidance (Children Act 1989/2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children)
• Ability to make confident, timely, and defensible decisions in a high-pressure environment
• Excellent communication, analytical, and recording skills
• Experience working within multi-agency safeguarding frameworks