Social Worker - Exploitation and Missing Team

About the Role

Peterborough City Council is seeking an Experienced Social Worker to join its Exploitation and Missing Team, part of the Young People''s Safeguarding Service.

This is a vital role focused on safeguarding vulnerable children and young people at risk of exploitation, trafficking, and going missing. You will work directly with young people, families, and a wide range of partner agencies to reduce risk, build resilience, and achieve positive outcomes.

This role is ideal for a passionate and skilled practitioner committed to child protection, trauma-informed practice, and multi-agency collaboration.

Location: Sand Martin House, Peterborough
Working Pattern: Hybrid - Minimum 2 days in the office, with home working and community visits
Rate: -39 per hour (Umbrella)

Key Responsibilities

• Build strong, trusting relationships with vulnerable children and young people
• Use trauma-informed approaches to understand and respond to exploitation risks
• Respond to incidents of children missing from home or care
• Conduct and oversee Return Home Interviews (RHI) to inform safeguarding planning
• Identify push and pull factors contributing to missing episodes and exploitation
• Contribute to and develop effective safeguarding and risk management plans
• Attend Strategy Meetings, weekly Risk Outside the Home panels, and monthly MACE meetings
• Work collaboratively with police, education, health, youth justice, and third-sector partners
• Share intelligence appropriately to enhance child protection
• Provide support and oversight to missing workers
• Deliver training to professionals across Peterborough
• Engage in continuous professional development and maintain Social Work England registration

About You

• Be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England
• Have experience working with exploitation, missing children, or safeguarding adolescents
• Demonstrate strong risk assessment and multi-agency working skills
• Be confident working in complex and high-risk environments
• Have a child-centred and trauma-informed approach to practice
• Show excellent communication, analytical, and decision-making abilities

Why Join Peterborough City Council?

• Be part of a specialist team making a real impact on vulnerable young people''s lives
• Work within a collaborative, multi-agency safeguarding environment
• Competitive pay and flexible hybrid working
• Opportunity to develop expertise in exploitation and missing children''s cases

If you''re an experienced Social Worker looking to make a meaningful difference in a specialist safeguarding role, we''d love to hear from you.