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Job Description
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall Glenfield Leicester LE3 8RA
Salary: £52,221 - £56,826 (inclusive of market premia at £3,000)
Working Hours: 18.5 Hrs
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 7th April 2026
Interview Date(s): 17th April 2026
About the Role
Lead a specialist Exit from Care team to safely and sustainably reduce the number of children in care by delivering high‑quality reunification to parents and progressing Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) and other permanence pathways. You will provide reflective leadership, ensure robust care planning and risk management, and drive excellent multi‑agency practice so children achieve permanence at the earliest safe opportunity.
An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.
For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex‑offenders, please see our policy statement.
About You
To apply for this post, you must:
* Social Work degree (or equivalent) and current registration with Social Work England. Evidence of continuing professional development; advanced/management qualifications desirable (e.g., Practice Educator, leadership programme).
* To drive the reunification strategy for the children in care service, champion improved outcomes for children and young people in Leicestershire as part of the operational management structure of children social care.
* To ensure that children and families receive high‑quality coordinated services which meet their needs and keep children safe.
* To work with partner agencies in a coordinated and integrated approach wherever possible to achieve good outcomes for children and families
* To provide management accountability to front‑line social work services
* To work in a needs‑led service, understanding the impact of financial decision‑making.
* To understand the impact of Equality and Diversity for children, young people and staff.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English is an essential requirement for this role.
Interested in Flexible Working?
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part‑time working, job sharing, term‑time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:
Debra Smith - Service Manager - Children in Care
Telephone: 01163058069
Email: debra.smith@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
At Leicestershire County Council we're looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, and whatever your background – we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what's on your CV. That's why we've designed a recruitment process that's fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive – both personally and professionally.
If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we'd love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the 'About You' section above. Without this information, we won't be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
About Us
About Leicestershire County Council
At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone.
Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose.
For further information on what it's like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following:
Our Recruitment Process
Our Organisational Values
Our Employee Benefits
Working for Us
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