Lead Consultant Practitioner - Child & Family Reunification

READING BOROUGH COUNCIL; Reading; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working

LGPS

Life Assurance

On-site nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car scheme

Job summary

Reading Borough Council seeks a Consultant Practitioner for the Edge of Care Team to support children in safely remaining with their families and to plan timely reunifications. The role focuses on delivering trauma-informed, child-centred practice through careful assessment and collaborative planning.

You will work with children, families, social workers, foster carers and partner agencies to ensure careful transitions, permanence and best outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in reunification planning and family-based safeguarding.
• Ability to lead on complex cases with professionals across agencies.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance for children’s services.

Responsibilities

• Lead on reunification assessments, planning and interventions for children and families.
• Develop and embed reunification and transition practice across Children's Services.
• Provide advice, guidance and support on complex cases.
• Support children to remain within their family networks wherever safe and possible.
• Work collaboratively with social workers, carers, fostering services and partner agencies.
• Chair professional meetings, including network meetings and planning forums.
• Contribute to quality assurance activities, audits and service improvement projects.
• Promote trauma-informed, restorative and systemic approaches to practice.
• Ensure practice is child-centred, evidence-informed and compliant with relevant legislation and guidance.

Skills

Trauma-informed practice

Restorative approaches

Systemic thinking

Chair professional meetings

Collaborative working

Job description

Reading Borough Council seeks a Consultant Practitioner for the Edge of Care Team to support children in safely remaining with their families and to plan timely reunifications. The role focuses on delivering trauma-informed, child-centred practice through careful assessment and collaborative planning.

You will work with children, families, social workers, foster carers and partner agencies to ensure careful transitions, permanence and best outcomes.