Advanced/Senior Practitioner

Location: Floor 2, Civic Centre, ST4 1RN

Start Date: ASAP

Contract Duration: 3+ Months

Working Hours: Mon - Fri, 09:00 - 17:00, 37 Hours per week

Pay Rate: £ 24.23 per hour

Job Ref: (phone number removed)

Responsibilities

In this role, you will be expected to:

Ensure active involvement of children, young people, and their families in assessment and care planning processes.

Adhere to the agreed practice standards for the service.

Comply with Social Work England registration and re-registration requirements and uphold professional practice standards.

Assist families in ensuring the safety of their children and take necessary actions to safeguard them.

Safeguard and enhance the health and well-being of children and young people, offering support to families and carers throughout Stoke-on-Trent.

Utilize departmental and authority resources in an efficient and effective manner.

Handle more complex casework involving children, young people, families, and carers.

Manage time effectively and adapt flexibly to meet service needs.

Adhere to departmental health and safety procedures and standards.

Provide support and cover for the Principal Manager as needed.

Contribute to the department's information management processes.

Engage in the performance management system through supervision and team meetings.

Conduct assessments and manage childcare plans within designated timescales and standards.

Take personal responsibility for ongoing professional development and maintaining performance standards.

Develop support plans that achieve identified outcomes in collaboration with children, families, agencies, and other networks.

Deliver focused social work interventions with clear aims and objectives regarding desired outcomes.

Represent the local authority in Court and other statutory settings.

Collaborate on cases with less experienced or non-social work qualified team members, sharing knowledge and fostering their learning.

Coordinate individual and team performance to ensure services meet statutory duties and quality standards.

Support social work students on placement and serve as a workplace supervisor or Practice Educator if appropriately trained.

Assign tasks to ASYEs, Apprentices, and Social Work Assistants, providing necessary support and guidance.

Chair meetings such as Strategy Meetings, Children in Need, and Child Protection Core Groups.

Engage in the broader development of the service and contribute to service improvement initiatives.

Offer mentoring and support to others and facilitate group reflective supervision.

Provide coverage as part of the team's established duty system.

Maintain children's records following departmental procedures.

Ensure full involvement of children, young people, and their families in assessments and plans.

Person Specification

Candidates must demonstrate the following:

Possession of a professional Social Work qualification or BA Social Work Qualification certified by Social Work England.

Fulfillment of Social Work England registration and re-registration requirements and standards.

In-depth knowledge of current children's social care legislation and safeguarding guidance.

Extensive understanding of related legislation, such as education and housing.

Comprehensive knowledge of child development and disabilities.

Experience in restorative practice and its application in children's social care.

Significant post-qualification experience in a social work setting.

Sound professional judgment and ability to operate within Children's Social Work Post Qualifying standards.

Effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.

Ability to build relationships and relate effectively to children, parents, and carers.

Insight into personal behavior, its impact on others, and capacity for critical reflection and response to challenges.

Commitment to Equal Opportunities and ability to challenge discrimination.

High standards of integrity, honesty, fairness, and equality expected in public services.

Ability to confidently fulfill all spoken aspects of the role through the medium of English.

Proven resilience in working in a challenging environment.

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