Family Help Lead Practitioner (Social Work qualified)

Hoop Recruitment Ltd; Kingswood; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking a Social Worker: Family Help Lead Practitioner to manage complex cases across CIN, CP and early Children in Care, providing relationship-based support to families. You will mentor colleagues and contribute to safeguarding and multi-agency plans, ensuring children's voices are central in practice.

Based in South Gloucestershire, you will work 37 hours per week on an Umbrella contract, paid at £42 per hour, with end date at the end of February.

Qualifications

• Qualify as a social worker with current registration (Social Work England).
• Proven ability to assess risk, plan care and manage complex cases.
• Experience mentoring and supporting junior staff and students.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex cases across CIN, CP and early Children in Care.
• Assess and manage risk, safeguarding actions as needed.
• Facilitate family group decision-making and multi-agency plans.
• Provide mentoring and practice support to colleagues and students.
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to service development.

Skills

Communication

Mentoring

Risk assessment

Care planning

Multi-agency

Education

Social Work qualification

SW England registration

Job description

Social Worker - Family Help Lead Practitioner x 2

South Gloucestershire Council | £42 per hour Umbrella Contract til end of February 37 hours per week

Join South Gloucestershire Council's children's social care service, rated Good by Ofsted, where strong practice, supportive leadership and positive outcomes for children are recognised.

As a Family Help Lead Practitioner, you will undertake skilled, relationship-based work with children and families across Child in Need, Child Protection and the early stages of Children in Care planning.

You will manage complex and sensitive cases, using your professional judgement to assess risk, strengthen safety and support families to achieve sustainable change. Alongside your own caseload, you will contribute to good practice within the team by offering mentoring, guidance and support to colleagues, students and newly qualified Social Workers.

Working within a multi-disciplinary Family Help and Best Start Community Team, you will provide statutory social work support to children and families, ensuring children's voices, family networks and relationship-based practice remain at the heart of your work.

Key responsibilities

• Manage complex cases across Child in Need, Child Protection and early Children in Care, completing high-quality assessments, interventions, care planning and reviews.
• Assess and manage risk, balancing children's needs and family rights while taking appropriate safeguarding action where there is a risk of significant harm or family breakdown.
• Facilitate family group decision-making, strengthen family networks and coordinate effective multi-agency plans and meetings.
• Provide mentoring, consultation and practice support to colleagues, students and newly qualified Social Workers.
• Share specialist knowledge and take responsibility for a specific area of practice where required.
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to team learning, service development and consistently high standards of practice.

What we're looking for

• A recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
• Considerable relevant post-qualifying experience within a Local Authority children's services setting.
• Strong knowledge of children's legislation, safeguarding procedures and statutory social work practice.
• Excellent assessment, analytical, care-planning and risk-management skills.
• Experience of working effectively with vulnerable children and families to achieve positive outcomes.
• The ability to mentor and support colleagues, sharing knowledge and promoting confident, consistent practice.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to manage challenging and sensitive situations with families and partner agencies.

Essential requirements

To apply for this role, you will need:

• A relevant Social Work qualification.
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• A minimum of six months' experience working as a registered Social Worker in the UK.
• An Enhanced DBS registered on the Update Service, or be happy to apply for one.
• Three years of referencing history.
• A full driving licence and access to a car.

Please note: DfE rules apply to this role. Sponsorship is not available, so applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.