Job Title:Social Work Senior Practitioner –Children in Care Team
Location: Cambridgeshire
Type:Permanent
Salary:£44,260 – £47,277 per annum
Cambridgeshire County Council is currently seeking a Social Work Senior Practitioner to work within ourChildren in Care Team.
Our Vision:
* Creating a greener, fairer, and more caring Cambridgeshire.
Our Corporate Outcome:
* Every decisionwe make and every action we take contributes to reducing our carbon emissions and improving nature. We make a difference through our climate-conscious decisions each day.
Our Values:
Our four values are central to our culture, driving everything we do.
* Lives Over Services: We put people and our communities at the heart of everything that we do.
* Collaborative: We respect and value people equally and work together through a shared purpose.
* Creative and Aspirational: We use our bravery, boldness, and curiosity to challenge and innovate.
* Accountable: We take ownership of our outcomes and responsibility for our behaviours.
Children’s Services:
Children, young people, and their families are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that delivering Children’s Services well has the potential to transform the lives of children, young people, and their families across Cambridgeshire. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and their families. We help children, young people, and their families to build their resilience and community connections and empower them to find their solutions to problems. We understand that children and young people are not all the same, but they all deserve outstanding services. We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of the communities we serve in Cambridgeshire.
We have identified six practice methodologies used within Cambridgeshire to enable practitioners to work with children, young people, and their families. Every case record will contain, at minimum, the following up-to-date areas of practice:
* Genograms
* Chronology
* Voice of the Child (incorporated into assessments plans and visits)
* Meaningful and planned visits
* Plans or review of plans and Planning
These form the basis of all of our practice standards and are integral to the records we keep.
Benefits of the role:
* Flexible Working Options: Embrace various flexible work arrangements such as hybrid working, nine-day fortnight, term-time contracts, and job sharing. We operate a ‘flex from 1st’ approach, enabling employees to request flexible working from day one.
* Comprehensive Wellbeing Support: Access our employee assistance programme, mental health first aiders network, monthly virtual Wellbeing Hours covering diverse topics, and a range of wellbeing resources.
* Cambs Rewards: Enjoy discounts via our online portal, including employee discounts, car lease scheme, cycle to work scheme, free Pure Gym day passes, and gym membership discounts.
* Additional Holiday Entitlement: Purchase up to four weeks of additional holiday entitlement and participate in the ‘pennies from heaven’ charity donation scheme via monthly pay.
* Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Join our active staff network called IDEAL, reflecting our commitment to prioritising equality, diversity, and inclusion.
* Regular Communication and Engagement: Stay informed and engaged with fortnightly Cambridgeshire Conversations led by senior leadership, weekly staff newsletters, and an updated staff intranet ‘Camweb’.
* Employee Recognition Scheme: Recognise exceptional performance with shopping vouchers and a day off through our employee recognition scheme.
* Local Government Pension Scheme: Secure your financial future with one of the most valuable pension schemes, providing a guaranteed income backed by the government, unaffected by market fluctuations, and adjusted with the cost of living.
Overall Purpose of the Job:
This role is crucial in ensuring that children and young people in care receive high-quality support, stability, and opportunities to thrive. As a Senior Practitioner, you will hold a complex caseload, provide mentorship and guidance to Social Workers, and contribute to service development and best practice. You will play a key role in care planning, permanency, and safeguarding, ensuring that children in care have the best possible life chances.
Main Accountabilities:
Service Delivery:
* Provide professional leadership in situations which have highly complex case arrangements for assessment and support planning, involving risk, complexity, and safety of children, young people, and families.
* Deputise for the Team Manager when required and as agreed by the Service Manager, including responsibility for all key duties of the Team Manager in their absence.
* Undertake timely assessments in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and operational standards, policy, and procedures for the service with a high degree of efficiency.
* Plan, implement, and review services, actions, and processes for children and young people with statutory, regulatory, and operational standards, policy, and procedures for the service.
* Chair and attend relevant childcare meetings to ensure that the outcomes identified at assessment are met through the provision of support, equipment, adaptations, and enabling programs.
* Provide written and verbal reports for various settings, including at Court, that are concise, informative, and based on the analysis of complex evidence.
* Lead, guide, and direct team members, to ensure work plans are in place and accountability taken by each team member for the cases held.
* Manage the planning, allocation, and review of workload for direct reports so priorities are managed, shortfalls identified, and services delivered within capacity and within departmental and partnership policies, procedures, and timescales.
* Develop effective partnership working with colleagues in related teams and partner agencies, including community services, both in terms of providing effective responses to the needs of children and young people and the development of an integrated service.
Safeguarding and Risk Management:
* Assess and balance risk and protective factors within a safeguarding framework.
* Provide advice and guidance on case management and effective risk management of complex situations, understand when to take positive risks as appropriate and escalate to the Team Manager as required.
* Actively model a robust commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people within your team.
* Provide more specialist social work practice skills and knowledge of Children’s Services user groups and make independent decisions.
* Work systemically, collaboratively, and sensitively with children, young people, and their families, creating opportunities for the promotion of growth and resilience.
* Maintain accurate and up-to-date records safely and confidentially in accordance with Cambridgeshire County Council policies and procedures.
Service and Team Development:
* Act as a practice lead to other members of the team, contribute to the induction of new staff, and act as a Practice Educator to Child Practitioners within the team.
* Responsible, alongside the Team Manager, for the supervision responsibilities for Social Workers and Child Practitioners, including overall responsibility for case outcomes within the teams.
* Take responsibility for professional development and training needs of direct reports through appropriate training, mentoring, and supervision.
* In conjunction with the Team Manager, ensure every team member is confident to deliver a service to children and young people that utilizes a range of evidence-based methodologies, including systemic and social learning approaches.
* Participate and lead in project and service development work as required.
Performance Management:
* Utilise management information to monitor team performance, reporting as required, and escalating and addressing any areas of concern in conjunction with the Team Manager.
* Prioritise activities and resources to meet team objectives, including effective workload management of self and others.
* Contribute to service plans to reflect links between activity and key performance indicators.
Professional Values, Behaviours and Standards:
* Carry out duties in a timely and responsive manner, in line with Cambridgeshire County Council standards and behaviours, and the Professional Capability Framework.
* Keep and maintain accurate records, in line with professional requirements and departmental recording methods and standards.
* Demonstrate an understanding of, acceptance, and commitment to the principles underlying equal opportunities.
* Fulfil the requirements of registration with Social Work England in respect of conduct, professional development, and National Standards.
Person Specification:
Qualifications Required:
* Recognised professional Social Work qualification (Degree/Masters/Post Graduate Diploma/Social Work fast track qualifying programme)
* Current Social Work England registration
* Practice Educator qualification or ability to undertake this within a year in post
* Car driver with a full UK license. Ability to work from a variety of locations and travel countywide.
Knowledge Required:
* Proven extensive knowledge and experience of Social Work with children, young people, and families.
* Completion of comprehensive risk assessments in child protection including investigations, court work, and complex casework with children, young people, and families.
* Knowledge and proven experience of managing complex case arrangements.
* Proven previous experience of summarising, analysing, and evaluating complex information.
* Knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and procedures.
* In-depth knowledge and understanding of best practice and national developments relating to the service area.
* Knowledge and awareness of issues relating to communities from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds and Equal Opportunities.
* Knowledge and understanding of Government and Council performance indicators and targets.
* In-depth knowledge and understanding of the values and principles underpinning children and young people involvement, and good customer care.
Skills Required:
* Proven ability to communicate to an advanced level verbally and in writing to a range of audiences including children, young people, parents and carers, and professional colleagues.
* Ability to create a rapport and build relationships with children, young people, and their families.
* Ability to prioritise tasks, manage own workload, and be accountable for casework.
* Able to work with a person-centred, strengths-based approach.
* Ability to operate in a fast-paced, changing environment.
* Ability to actively support and promote Equal Opportunities.
* Able to thrive in a complex and demanding environment with a high level of autonomy.
* Excellent communication and negotiation skills, including the ability to deal with complex issues in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
* Ability to formulate and implement effective social work interventions focused on outcomes.
* Ability to lead and direct team members regarding professional practice and social work interventions.
* Proven ability to transfer knowledge and skills to colleagues through coaching, mentoring, and co-working.
* Excellent IT skills and ability to use a variety of IT devices, systems, and databases.
Experience Required:
* Significant experience of identifying and assessing complex need, balancing and managing risk, formulating and implementing effective social work interventions.
* Proven experience of managing a diverse and complex workload and ability to thrive in a complex environment.
* Experience of using information management systems to produce good quality data in a variety of formats.
* Broad range of experience in multi-agency working.
* Experience of taking responsibility for creating and maintaining a culture of safe working.
* Experience of dealing with issues relating to, actively supporting, and promoting Equal Opportunities.
Safeguarding:
* Able to demonstrate an understanding of the safe working practices that apply to this role.
* Ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
* Able to demonstrate understanding, acceptance, and commitment to the principles of human rights and equality, and how they underpin practice.
If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children, young people, and their families, and possess the skills and experience outlined above, we would love to hear from you. Join us in creating a greener, fairer, and more caring Cambridgeshire. Apply today and help us build a brighter future for our community.
Why Cambridgeshire County Council?
Work-life balance, support, and innovation
Cambridgeshire County Council offer excellent professional development opportunities and access to ongoing training for all Social Workers. The council fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, promoting teamwork and innovation to deliver high-quality services. With a strong focus on work-life balance and flexible working arrangements, Social Workers are able to manage their personal and professional commitments effectively. This makes it a rewarding place to grow a career while making a truly meaningful difference in the community.
A comprehensive wellbeing package to covering all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work – also accessible by your family.
Get 28 Days Annual Leave. You can also buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro-rata) through our salary sacrifice scheme.
Professional Growth and Development
Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth.
IDEAL Staff Equality Access
CCC is committed to inclusivity, so you get access to Peer Support Groups through the IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network.
Work, live and thrive in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a wonderful county to live and work as a social worker due to its blend of vibrant communities, beautiful landscapes, and rich history. The county offers a diverse range of urban and rural settings, providing social workers with the opportunity to serve a wide variety of populations and needs. Excellent transport links, fantastic schools, and access to cultural amenities make it the perfect place to be. Moreover, the county’s commitment to social care and community support ensures that social workers are valued and able to make a real impact on the well-being of residents, all while enjoying a great quality of life.
"We are a flex-first employer, valuing work-life balance and the wellbeing of our Social Workers, and all other staff. We are dedicated to family-friendly policies and flexible working arrangements that accommodate both formal and informal needs. Cambridgeshire provides an environment where social workers are supported in their career development and feel truly valued."
Area highlights
Office address
Huntingdon, PE28 4YE
Local highlight
Average house price
Closest city
Cambridge (35 mins)
STN (50 mins)
Apply Now
Start your journey with Cambridgeshire County Council
Application form on single job posts and dynamic jobs board.
" * " indicates required fields
How would you like to apply?
With CV
Without CV
First Name *
Surname *
Email *
Phone *
Are you a qualified social worker in the UK? *
Do you have experience as a social worker in the UK? *
Current Job Title *
Current Employer *
Postcode *
Upload your CV (.pdf or .doc max size 3MB)
Choose file * Accepted file types: docx, doc, pdf, jpeg, jpg, png, Max. file size: 3 MB.
Consent *
I accept the privacy policy and acknowledge this role is managed by Sanctuary Personnel on behalf of the employer. *
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Are you a qualified social worker in the UK? *
Yes
No
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Do you have experience as a social worker in the UK? *
Yes
No
Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
#J-18808-Ljbffr