Advanced Practitioner - Children in Care

London Borough of Havering; Greater London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

London Borough of Havering is seeking an experienced Advanced Practitioner within the Children in Care Team. The role focuses on delivering high-quality statutory social work to looked after children with a reduced but complex caseload and providing practice leadership across the team.

The post requires CQSW or Diploma in Social Work, registration with Social Work England and substantial post-qualification experience in children’s social care, including care planning and permanence planning.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with CQSW or Diploma in Social Work or equivalent.
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Substantial post-qualifying experience in children’s social care.
• Experience with Children in Care, care planning and permanence planning.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality statutory social work for looked after children with a reduced but complex caseload.
• Provide practice leadership, mentoring and development for social workers.
• Support oversight, quality assurance and defensible decision-making.
• Contribute to service development through audit activity and reflective practice forums.

Skills

Advanced professional judgement

Practice leadership

Mentoring social workers

Communication skills

Education

CQSW, Diploma in Social Work or equivalent

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

Job Description

Team: Children in Care As an

Job DescriptionAdvanced Practitioner – Children in Care – Grade 9Salary: £54,267 - £58,461 per annumTeam: Children in Care As an Advanced Practitioner within the Children in Care Team, you will play a vital role in delivering high-quality statutory social work to children and young people who are looked after by the Local Authority. You will hold a reduced but complex caseload, working with children where practice requires enhanced expertise, professional oversight and skilled intervention. Your focus will be on ensuring that care planning is child-centred, aspirational and outcome-focused, and that children’s lived experiences remain central to all decision‑making. You will provide practice leadership within the team, supporting and developing social workers to deliver consistently strong, relationship‑based and strengths‑focused practice. This will include offering professional consultation, modelling high-quality direct work with children and young people, supporting reflective supervision and contributing to the development of confident and skilled practitioners. You will play a key role in embedding high standards of permanence planning, life‑story work and preparation for independence. The role includes oversight and quality assurance at critical points in a child’s journey, including Looked After Reviews, care planning, permanence planning and pathway planning for care‑experienced young people. You will support robust assessment, planning and review processes, ensuring that statutory responsibilities are met and that plans are purposeful, timely and responsive to children’s needs. You will work closely with children, carers and families, as well as a wide range of multi‑agency partners, including health, education, commissioning and independent reviewing services, to ensure coordinated and effective care arrangements. You will also contribute to service development through audit activity, learning reviews and reflective practice forums, helping to drive continuous improvement across the Children in Care Service. Havering offers a supportive and learning‑focused environment, with strong management support, regular supervision and access to professional development through the Social Care Academy. This role provides an excellent opportunity for an experienced practitioner to influence practice, strengthen outcomes for children in care and make a meaningful difference to the lives of care‑experienced children and young people.

Key aims and objectives of the role include:

• Delivering high-quality, child-centred practice for children and young people in care
• Providing professional leadership and expert consultation to support and develop social workers
• Promoting high standards of care planning, permanence planning and corporate parenting
• Supporting effective oversight, quality assurance and defensible decision‑making
• Contributing to service learning, development and continuous improvement

This is a rewarding opportunity for a skilled and reflective practitioner who is passionate about improving outcomes for children in care and supporting excellence in social work practice.

About You

You will be an experienced, confident and highly skilled social work practitioner with a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people in care. You will bring advanced professional judgement, a clear understanding of corporate parenting responsibilities and the ability to support high-quality practice in complex and emotionally demanding situations.

You will be a qualified Social Worker, holding a CQSW, Diploma in Social Work or equivalent qualification, and be registered with Social Work England. You will have substantial post‑qualifying experience within children’s social care, including significant experience of working with Children in Care, care planning, permanence planning and care proceedings. You will demonstrate a strong understanding of attachment, trauma and the impact of care experiences on children’s development and identity.

As an Advanced Practitioner, you will have demonstrable experience of providing practice leadership, supporting, mentoring and developing social workers to deliver consistently strong, relationship‑based and child‑centred practice. You will be confident in offering professional consultation, modelling high‑quality direct work with children and young people, and contributing to reflective supervision, learning and quality assurance activity.

You will have strong working knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and best practice, including the Children Act 1989, Care Planning Regulations and statutory guidance relating to children in care. You will be skilled in care planning, permanence planning and pathway planning, ensuring that plans are timely, aspirational and focused on achieving stability and long‑term positive outcomes.

You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling you to work effectively with children, young people, carers and families, and to build strong working relationships with multi‑agency partners, including health, education, commissioning and independent reviewing services. You will be confident in contributing to Looked After Reviews, court processes and other statutory forums, ensuring that children’s voices, wishes and lived experiences are clearly evidenced and central to decision‑making.

Non‑negotiable qualities for this role include:

• A clear and unwavering commitment to children in care and corporate parenting responsibilities
• Advanced professional judgement and confidence in managing complexity and challenge
• Strong practice leadership skills, with the ability to support, challenge and develop others
• High standards of professional integrity, accountability and reflective practice
• A values‑led, inclusive approach aligned with Havering’s commitment to learning, development and workforce wellbeing

If you are a skilled, reflective and motivated practitioner who is passionate about improving outcomes for children in care and supporting excellence in social work practice, we would welcome your application.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Kate Rubenah ([e-mail])

Closing Date: 31st August 2026

Please view Job Profile here

Additional Information We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

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About Us With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit. By making the most of its position and opportunities, Havering is becoming a hub for start‑ups and expanding businesses, as well as construction, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries. Find out why you should work for Havering Council.