Senior Social Worker / Practice Lead – 3 Month Contract

Summary

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload with significant risk and need.
  
  


• Conduct specialized assessments and develop effective intervention strategies.
  
  


• Lead initiatives in safeguarding, child protection, permanence, and care planning.
  
  


• Chair professional and multi-agency meetings.
  
  


• Prepare reports and provide evidence for court proceedings, panels, and hearings.
  
  


• Facilitate timely permanence planning for children unable to stay at home.
  
  


• Offer professional leadership and mentorship to social workers and students.
  
  


• Engage in quality assurance, auditing, and practice improvement activities.
  
  


• Advocate for the voices of children and families in planning and decision-making.
  
  


• Spearhead learning and development activities within the team.
  
  


• Collaborate with education, health, police, and partner agencies.
  
  

Essential

• Qualified Social Worker.
  
  


• Current registration with Social Work England.
  
  


• Extensive post-qualification experience in Children's Social Care.
  
  


• Proven expertise in:
  
  
  
  • Child Protection
    
    
  
  
  • Children in Need
    
    
  
  
  • Looked After Children
    
    
  
  
  • Care Proceedings
    
    
  
  
  • Permanence Planning
    
    
  
  
  • Safeguarding
    
    
  
  


• Experience in providing professional leadership and practice guidance.
  
  


• Competence in preparing court reports and presenting evidence.
  
  


• Strong skills in assessment, analysis, and decision-making.
  
  


• Ability to coach, mentor, and support less experienced practitioners.
  
  


• Excellent communication and multi-agency collaboration skills.
  
  

Desirable

• Practice Educator qualification.
  
  


• Experience in quality assurance and auditing activities.
  
  


• Experience in supervising or mentoring social workers.
  
  


• Specialized knowledge in fostering, adoption, disability, or safeguarding practices.
  
  

What's on Offer?

• 3 Month Contract
  
  


• Bi-Weekly Pay
  
  


• Opportunity to lead professionally within Children's Services.
  
  


• Engaging and rewarding work in safeguarding and permanence.
  
  


• Emphasis on quality assurance, workforce development, and practice enhancement.
  
  


• Chance to support positive outcomes for children, young people, and families.