Social Work Assistant

UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children) Social Work Assistant – Kent County Council

Salary: £29,167 – £30,934 per annum
Location: Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
Contract: Fixed-term (6 months)
Working Pattern: Full-time
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Job Category: Social Care – Unqualified
Job Reference: REF/TP/67780/15548
Closing Date: 17 November 2026
Visa Sponsorship: Not stated in the job advert.

About the Role

Kent County Council is recruiting a committed and self-motivated UASC Social Work Assistant to join its East Kent Children in Care Service.

Based primarily at Brook House, the successful candidate will support adolescent children in care, including Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC).

You will support social workers in carrying out their statutory responsibilities by undertaking direct work with vulnerable children and young people, their families and carers, as well as assisting with other tasks identified by the social work team.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to vulnerable children and young people, including unaccompanied asylum seekers.
• Assist social workers with their statutory duties and other identified responsibilities.
• Communicate effectively with children and young people whose first language may not be English.
• Prepare accurate reports and case notes.
• Collect and organise information to support complex court proceedings.
• Liaise with social workers and other professionals involved in children’s care.
• Develop positive working relationships with families, carers and relevant professionals.
• Support young people in attending appointments, including travelling within and outside Kent where required.

Requirements and Skills

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to communicate effectively with children and young people, including those whose first language is not English.
• Good IT skills.
• An understanding of the needs of children, young people and their families.
• The ability to prepare clear reports and accurate case records.
• Strong organisational and information-gathering skills.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with families, carers and professionals.

Important: Public transport is not a viable option for some rural areas of Kent due to limited services. You may be required to transport or accompany young people to appointments within and outside the county.

Additional Information

• This is a customer-facing position, and applicants must meet the required spoken English or Welsh communication standards under the Immigration Act 2016.
• The appointment is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Kent County Council encourages applications from people of diverse backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive workplace.
• The council may close the advert earlier than the stated deadline if enough suitably qualified applications are received.

Contact Information

For further information about the position, contact:

Claire Cannon
Telephone: 03000 410859
Email: claire.cannon@kent.gov.uk

How to Apply

Interested applicants should review the official job description and person specification before submitting an application.

Closing Date: 17 November 2026