About The Role
Job Title: Children’s Senior Practitioner – Safeguarding & Support
Salary: HC09 £40,777 - £45,091 (plus £5,000 market rate supplement per year £45,777 - £50,091)
Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37
Location: Multiple locations. Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Hereford
Relocation package of up to £10,000 available
Closing date: 04/05/2026
Introduction
Our Safeguarding and Support service is made up of six teams, which work out of three locality offices: South Locality (Ross-on-Wye), North Locality (Leominster) and Central Locality (Hereford). Each team comprises a Team Manager, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers and a team of Family Support Workers. Locality working gives you the opportunity to stay connected, meet new colleagues and easily access support.
We are proud of our restorative approach to social work – a way of working that is firmly embedded in our team culture and management style. Collaboration and reflection are at the heart of how we practice: senior managers are always available for guidance and support, especially when navigating complex cases.
Curious about what it’s really like to be a Social Worker with us? Here is a short video that gives you a glimpse into the heart of our service and shows why Herefordshire Council could be the perfect place for your next career move.
https://youtu.be/FSjU-FV5uic
The Role
We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Senior Practitioner to join us on our journey of improvement. Working within our Safeguarding & Support Teams, you will collaborate with partner agencies to make a real and lasting difference to children, families and the wider community. Come and be part of Herefordshire’s Restorative Journey of Improvement, helping us achieve the very best outcomes for the people we support.
As a Senior Practitioner, you will play a key role in developing and supporting our staff to enhance their knowledge, experience and professional practice. Working closely with managers, you will contribute to the ongoing growth of the team and help ensure the delivery of a high‑quality service for children, young people and families.
In this role, you will provide coaching, mentoring, training and support to apprentices, Step Up students and Family Support Workers. You will also lead on areas of practice development and training across the wider service, supporting the implementation of our Practice Standards, Quality Assurance Framework and professional values, policies and procedures.
About You
* Passionate about improving outcomes for children and families through high‑quality safeguarding practice, robust assessments and effective early intervention.
* Experienced in managing complex safeguarding cases, demonstrating strong analytical, planning and decision‑making skills to ensure each child’s needs are clearly understood and effectively met.
* Committed to working collaboratively and restoratively with families, colleagues and partner agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes and promote positive change.
* Resilient and reflective, with the confidence and professional curiosity needed to manage challenging situations and provide clear, evidence‑based guidance to others.
* A skilled mentor and role model, supporting and developing colleagues through coaching, supervision and leading areas of good practice within the team.
* Thrives in a supportive and fast‑paced environment, contributing to a culture of continuous learning, improvement and high professional standards.
* Registered with Social Work England and holding a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree in Social Work, DipSW or CQSW).
We Offer
* Competitive salary and holiday entitlement.
* Contributory pension and staff benefits scheme.
* Salary range of £40,777 - £45,091 per annum.
* Market rate supplement: £5,000 per annum.
* Welcome Payment: £10,000.
* Retention payment: £2,000 - £4,000 depending on team.
* Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000.
* Professional development: protected time and budget to develop yourself and your career.
* Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
* Career progression: clear pathways to progress.
* Annual Leave: 31 days pro‑rata plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 10 days per annum during the request period.
* Flexible working: potential for job‑sharing, part‑time hours and agile working.
* Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling.
* Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements).
* Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits (savings, cash back and discounts).
Why Choose Us?
Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community.
Our priority is to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families and partners to make a lasting difference.
It’s an exciting time to join us. We’re investing in our people and relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner Leeds City Council. You’ll be supported by experienced managers, continuous professional development and a genuine team ethos that values collaboration and care.
If you’re committed to helping children and young people thrive, come and join the journey in Herefordshire – where your work truly matters.
Reasonable Adjustments
Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email: enquiries@hoopleresourcing.co.uk.
If you’re shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments, our Children & Young People Recruitment Team will be happy to support you.
Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations
* We will interview candidates with a disability as part of the “Disability Confident” scheme.
* We will interview Armed Forces Veterans or Reservists under the Armed Forces Covenant.
* We will interview candidates who indicate they are a Herefordshire care leaver as part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.
We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre‑employment checks.
Application Process
To apply for a position, please upload an up‑to‑date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. Be sure to include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile.
Good luck, we’re looking forward to meeting you.
Please note: the council is currently unable to offer overseas visa sponsorship for Social Worker roles in Children & Young People. Overseas prospective candidates requiring sponsorship should not apply for these roles. You may consider other opportunities with us that may be open to sponsorship.
Full list of current vacancies can be found at https://spiritofherefordshire.com/children-young-people/jobs/
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