Social Worker Specialist Practice Leadership Role
Location:Haslingden (East Lancashire) & Longridge (near Preston)
Salary:Negotiable (dependent on experience and expertise)
Hours:Full-time, flexible working available
Annual Leave:2530 days
About the Role
This is not your standard social work post its aspecialist practice leadership positionat the heart of a Residential Family Centre service.
Its an opportunity to bring together everything that makes social work meaningful:curiosity, compassion, analysis, reflection, and leadership. Youll truly get to know families and how they function, building relationships that enable you to challenge supportively and promote lasting positive change.
Youll take a leading role in thequality and integrity of assessments, supporting the senior leadership team to ensure that all practice remains reflective, evidence-based, and grounded in relationship-based work. This role uniquely combines frontline expertise with strategic influence your professional judgement will directly inform decisions about childrens futures.
Our Residential Family Centres provide12-week residential assessmentsfor families involved in care proceedings or earlier interventions. These are high-support, short-term environments where decisions about childrens futures are made through fair, timely, and evidence-based analysis.
What Youll Do
* Deliver robust, fair, and evidence-based family assessments.
* Work intensively with asmall, protected caseload(each setting has just five family placements).
* Gather, analyse and communicate complex information clearly and confidently.
* Lead direct work with families, including observations, structured sessions, and informal interactions.
* Support the senior leadership team withsupervision, quality assurance, and practice development.
* Ensure assessments are trauma-informed, relationship-based, and focused on childrens welfare.
* Balance compassionate practice with clear, analytical recommendations that support timely decision-making.
What Were Looking For
Essential:
* Qualified Social Worker withregistration with Social Work England.
* Strong understanding ofsafeguarding childrenand confident risk management skills.
* Excellent analytical and communication skills written and verbal.
* Ability to apply atrauma-informed and shame-sensitive approachto practice.
* Experience working withvulnerable adults and/or childrenin a safeguarding capacity.
* Confident in holdingdifficult but sensitive conversationswith parents.
* Team player with a positive attitude and a good sense of humour.
* Strong IT and recording skills.
* Sound understanding ofchild development and early years.
Desirable:
* Knowledge ofResidential Family Centre Regulations 2002andNational Minimum Standards.
* Supervisory experience or experience supporting colleagues in practice.
* Previous experience in a residential setting.
* Creative direct work skills with families and children.
Additional Requirements:
* Enhanced DBS check.
* Willingness to participate in an out-of-hours rota if required.
* Access to a car and business use insurance.
What Youll Receive
* Afriendly, supportive and high-morale teamenvironment.
* Quarterly team development daysand social events (lunch provided).
* Regular check-ins, focus groups, and service development meetings your views truly matter.
* Autonomy and trust no micro-management, just thoughtful support and shared learning.
* Genuine work-life balancewith flexibility in working hours and patterns.
* Monthly car user bonusand car valet service for frequent users (55p per mile mileage rate).
* Protected caseloadsto ensure high-quality, meaningful work.
* Bespoke wellbeing support (e.g., counselling, coaching, or other individualised options).
* Reflective, personal, and focused supervisionbacked by an open-door policy.
* Opportunities forcareer development and progressionwithin a growing service.
* Leadership team that genuinely values and recognises your contribution.
* Specialisthealth and wellbeing support for women, including menopause and reproductive health guidance.
Apply today to make a real difference!
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