Senior Practitioner - Family Support & Protection

Senior Practitioner - Family Support & Protection

Job Openings Senior Practitioner - Family Support & Protection

We are looking for an experienced, motivated and creative social worker to join our team. We are offering an opportunity for someone who is looking for career development in a supportive, stable team, who is committed to and can model relationship based social work in a Senior Practitioner position.

The post will entail managing a reduced caseload, overseeing a 'pod' of 3 - 4 social workers providing day to day consultation and support to less experienced staff.

The Family Support and Protection (FS&P) teams work with families on Child in Need & Child Protection plans to promote sustainable change

The work is varied and involves working with Public Law Outline (PLO), Court work including S.7 report and when necessary taking families into proceedings and some Special Guardianship Order (SGO) assessments.

• The Senior Practitioner role provides leadership in the team, providing both support and mentoring to newly qualified or less experienced staff and deputising for the Team Manager when needed.
• They will oversee the review of some child in need plans particularly prior to closure and will have responsibility to lead in a practice area.
• There will be good opportunities for self professional development and for being part of developing our team and service.
• There is an ethos of openness to the development of new ideas, particularly to reinforce our relationship based focus, both with our service users and within the staff group.
• The successful candidate will be expected to bring skill and high standards of social work to their own caseload as well as providing modelling, advice and support to colleagues.
• They will be committed to systemic, relationship based social work, providing effective, innovative interventions and with the ability to build good partnerships, both with our external partners and within the organisation.

• Diploma in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
• Social Work England registration as a Registered Social Worker.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• IT/Word Processing Skills.
• Evidence of recent practice at an experienced social worker level, supported by comprehensive working knowledge and experience within the field of practice in Children Services.
• Preferably with experience of Child Protection work including section 47 investigations and assessments since the implementation of the Children’s Act 1989. Considerable, recent experience of communicating with children of all ages and working in partnership with parents and/or carers.
• Experience in planning activities and programmes for children, young people and parents.
• Experience of Court work in relation to Child Care matters and have an understanding of the legal process.
• Detailed knowledge of current legislation pertinent to Child Protection (e.g. CA1989, CJA
  1991), Guidance and Regulations.
• Knowledge and understanding of child development, relating theory and practice.