Advanced Practitioner – Social Work
Salary: PO5 £49,282 - £52,413 pro rata
Hours: 37 and 18.5 hour positions available
Contract: Permanent and Temporary roles
Location: Leeds (various office bases)
The Advanced Practitioner role will involve managing a complex caseload, supporting the Team Manager on day-to-day operational issues and mentoring less experienced workers to ensure practice is of the highest quality and consistency and to disseminate learning. It will also model relationship building, positive partnership development and demonstrate social work values throughout the workday. The role supports the creation of a Child Friendly Leeds and aligns with the Best City Ambition.
About You
* Be child centred, work restoratively and be committed to family led decision making to achieve best outcomes for children and young people.
* Be experienced in leading practice to ensure the welfare of children and young people is safeguarded and promoted and statutory duties are met.
* Have excellent interpersonal skills and be a critical thinker.
* Have a positive can‑do attitude to challenges and changes and the ability to enthuse and motivate others.
* Be ambitious for your service, have excellent organisational skills and be able to share your skills and knowledge to develop others.
* Have extensive post‑qualifying experience in Children and Families Work in a Local Authority setting with demonstrable experience in a child protection setting as a senior social worker level.
* Have and maintain Practice Educator Level 2 on commencement of post.
* Have experience developing inter‑agency and multi‑disciplinary approaches to work with children and families.
* Have experience of providing structured supervision for social work staff and students.
* Have experience of supervising, mentoring and coaching staff through assessment and care planning processes and court proceedings.
* Have experience of preparing and presenting high quality reports on complex issues to a range of different audiences.
* Have extensive experience of using a range of social work interventions to undertake assessments of complex family situations.
* Be able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
What We Offer You
* A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
* Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
* Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
* A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
* A range of staff benefits to support wellbeing and make your money go further.
How To Apply
Please complete the online application form (choose temporary or permanent). Read our guidance for further advice. Ensure all sections are completed before submitting.
If you have any queries or would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Fiona Tharme (0113 3784007) or Clare Matthew (0113 3784026).
The closing date for application is 1st December with a view to holding an assessment centre on 8th December and interviews the following week.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex‑offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans, LGBT+, ethnic diversity, disabled and care‑experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, please consider your eligibility for sponsorship via the Skilled Worker visa route.
Job Purpose
The Advanced Practitioner role is to deal with the most complex cases requiring a social worker of considerable experience. The role will predominantly manage a complex caseload, support the team manager on day‑to‑day operational issues and provide co‑working and coaching to less experienced workers to ensure quality and consistency and to disseminate learning.
Responsibilities
* Manage a caseload of the most complex cases. Case allocation will be based on complexity, level of risk, profile and potential publicity.
* Undertake complex case assessments.
* Make autonomous decisions based on experience and knowledge, reporting to the Team Manager on case progress, risks and outcomes.
* Ensure an anti‑racist and anti‑discriminatory approach in practice.
* Co‑work and coach less experienced social workers to share expertise.
* Support Team Managers in overseeing and decision‑making for case allocation and workloads.
* Ensure case work is appropriately planned, critically evaluated and reviewed.
* Achieve performance targets and timescales.
* Mentor, coach and advise newly qualified and less experienced staff.
* Carry out role of Practice Educator to directly supervise students, mentor new educators and less experienced staff.
* Deliver informal and formal learning within teams and across the service.
* Provide consultation and develop staff skills.
* Chair planning and review meetings e.g., supervision order reviews and child and family support meetings.
* Lead and contribute to strategic developments and embedding excellent practice across the city.
* Use and manage financial resources within available budgets.
* Work flexible arrangements, including evenings and weekends as required.
* Assist other services as required, adapting to change.
* Participate in appraisal, training and development to maintain up‑to‑date knowledge and skills.
* Improve own practice through observation, evaluation and development programmes.
* Collaborate with colleagues, seeking help and advice when necessary.
* Attend relevant meetings, training days and events.
* Comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures, including child protection, health, safety, confidentiality and data protection.
* Promote equality, diversity and anti‑discriminatory practice.
* Challenge incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation.
* Work within the flexibility protocol as required.
* The duties outlined are not exhaustive and other duties may be assigned in line with the post evaluation.
* Work to and within the Post qualifying standards of social work.
Qualifications
Post requires an appropriate professional qualification (DipSW, Degree, CQSW or equivalent). The applicant must be registered with Social Work England upon commencement and maintain registration. Practice Educator level 2 must be maintained on commencement.
Essential Requirements
* Extensive post‑qualifying experience in Children and Families Work with demonstrable experience in a child protection setting at senior social worker level.
* Experience developing inter‑agency and multi‑disciplinary approaches.
* Experience of structured supervision for staff and students.
* Experience supervising, mentoring and coaching staff through assessment and care planning and court proceedings.
* Experience preparing and presenting high quality reports on complex issues to different audiences.
* Experience of using a range of social work interventions for complex family situations.
* Ability to work flexibly across locations.
* Ability to critically apply social work theory in practice.
* Ability to identify risk indicators and conduct effective risk assessment.
* Ability to communicate, negotiate and influence practitioners, managers and partners from other agencies.
* Ability to present and disseminate information for staff and partner learning.
* Ability to chair meetings.
* Competency in IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet and Email.
Essential Behavioural & Other Characteristics
* Ability to inspire and motivate self and colleagues.
* Commitment to deliver high quality social care services.
* Child‑centred approach and philosophy.
* Ownership of informed decisions and delivery of quality outcomes.
* Understanding of Leeds City Council values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
* Commitment to continuous improvement and best city ambition for health, wellbeing, inclusive growth and zero carbon.
* Observation of council policies and procedures.
* Willingness to participate in appraisal, training and development for up‑to‑date knowledge.
* Flexible and adaptable to change, supporting other services as required.
* Promotion of equality and anti‑discriminatory practice.
* Recognition and challenging of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation and reporting concerns appropriately.
* Adherence to the flexibility protocol.
Desirable Requirements
* Possession of a full current driving licence.
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