Lead Practitioner Family

Job Description & Person Specification

We have a Lead Practitioner vacancy within the Building Futures team, providing Edge of Care services to our Torbay children and families.

We are a busy team working with complex and demanding situations affecting children and families in Torbay, where children experience challenges within their family environment. The aim of the team is to provide high quality intervention and support to children and families, to enable children to achieve better outcomes, safety, stability and permanence.

Presently, our Team are operating a service Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm on Saturdays. These hours are currently supported by a three-week fixed rota across the team, working every third Saturday.

Our ethos is guided by working restoratively with children, families and colleagues. We have a focus on developing strong positive working relationships with whole families to address crisis and persistent issues, for example neglect.

Building Futures provide high intensity and a rapid response to a number of children and families in crisis, enabling them to address and overcome the difficulties that have led to the family being at risk of breakdown, and prevent further escalation and avoid admission into the care of the local authority – unless that is the only safe option.

The Building Futures Team also support the safe re‑unification of children to their families, following a period where they have been cared for by the Local Authority, and support cared for children and their carers in terms of enhancing placement stability.

We are looking for skilled practitioners who have experience of direct work with families who are experiencing challenges. You will have confidence and skills to work with young people and families in crisis. You will be a dedicated and enthusiastic professional, committed to improving outcomes for children and their families.

Appropriate candidates will have a good understanding of social care. You will also come with particular experience and knowledge of how to work with specific hard‑to‑reach groups including those affected by domestic abuse, mental health difficulties, anti‑social behaviour, criminal and sexual exploitation, gang affiliation, drug and alcohol misuse, school exclusion or truanting.

We know this is a demanding role, which is why we invest in our people. You’ll have access to ongoing learning and development through the Torbay Children’s Services Learning Academy, helping you grow your expertise and career.

You’ll need the ability to travel efficiently across Torbay, the Southwest, and occasionally the UK, and having the flexibility to work unsociable hours and embrace hybrid working is essential.

Torbay Council’s Children’s Services is proud to have Registered Restorative Organisation status that is focused on building trust, empowering families, and working together to create lasting change. Join a team that values relationships, innovation, and impact.

This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.

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For an informal chat please contact Richard Hamjavar on or ri Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 16th March 2026. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.

• Ability to carry out assessments, plan and deliver needs-based packages of support.
• Ability to engage positively with children, young people and their parents.
• Ability to offer appropriate support to families affected by family breakdown, homelessness, child protection issues, drug and/or alcohol dependency, tenancy breakdown and non-school attendance.
• Ability to…