Closing date: 07 June 2026
Senior Practitioner - Parenting Assessment and Family Time (PAFT) (3 posts - High Peak & Chesterfield / Bolsover, North East Derbyshire & Amber Valley / Erewash & South Derbyshire)
Exciting opportunities have arisen within Children’s Services for dynamic and experienced practitioners to take on the role of Senior Practitioner within our Parenting Assessment and Family Time (PAFT) Teams.
These are key roles within Family Help, leading the delivery of high-quality parenting assessments and family time arrangements across designated localities. The posts will provide professional leadership and supervision to Parenting Assessors and Family Time Assistants, ensuring that work is evidence-based, outcome-focused and centred on the safety and wellbeing of children.
You will work closely with the Head of Service for Family Help, Children’s Social Care, Legal and wider partners to ensure that parenting assessments and family time arrangements are delivered effectively, safely and to a high standard, including where work informs court proceedings.
Responsibilities
* Providing professional leadership, supervision and support to Parenting Assessors and Family Time Assistants.
* Overseeing the allocation and management of parenting assessments and family time activity across the locality.
* Ensuring the effective delivery of family time arrangements that promote safe, positive relationships between children and their families.
* Quality assuring parenting assessments to ensure they meet required standards and align with policy and the East Midlands Parenting Assessment framework.
* Working in partnership with Children’s Social Care, Legal and other agencies to support effective decision-making, including within pre-proceedings and court processes.
Skills and Experience
* Considerable experience of working with children and families with complex needs.
* Experience of supervising staff and managing practice and performance.
* Strong understanding of parenting assessment, family time and safeguarding practice.
* Experience of quality assuring assessment work and supporting high standards of practice.
* Ability to analyse risk, apply evidence-based approaches and develop effective plans with families.
* Strong understanding of child development, parenting capacity and risk/protective factors.
* Excellent communication skills and the ability to work sensitively with families and professionals.
* Ability to manage competing demands and maintain a clear focus on the child’s needs.
* Strong report writing and IT skills, including producing work for court and formal processes.
If you would like an informal conversation about this role, please contact Chris Caley, Head of Service for Family Help at chris.caley@derbyshire.gov.uk.
Closing date for applications: 7 June 2026
Interview date: mid-June 2026
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