Lead Practitioner - Adolescent Help Team B

Royal Greenwich; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is seeking a skilled Lead Practitioner to join the Adolescent Help Teams within the Adolescent Wellbeing and Safeguarding service. You will combine direct practice with coaching, mentoring and professional leadership, embedding high-quality, evidence-informed interventions for young people and families.

You will lead complex family work, coordinate Family Help Plans, and collaborate with parents, carers and partner agencies to deliver measurable outcomes and reduce

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker or equivalent with registration.
• Experience with adolescents and complex family work.
• Ability to lead multi-agency plans and assess risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate interventions for children, young people and families with complex needs.
• Coordinate Family Help Plans and ensure timely, effective support.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and supervision to colleagues.
• Work with multiple agencies to develop joint, evidence-based plans.
• Analyse risk, formulate plans and measure outcomes.
• Maintain accurate case recordings and high-quality management information.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Partnership working

Risk assessment

Multi-agency collaboration

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

Make a Difference at a Critical Time in a Young Person's Life

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is transforming the way we support children, young people, and families with our ambitious Families First in Greenwich programme. We are seeking a skilled, ambitious, and relationship-focused Lead Practitioner to join our Adolescent Help Teamswithin theAdolescent Wellbeing and Safeguarding service.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner who is passionate about achieving better outcomes for adolescents and their families. You will play a pivotal role in supporting young people facing complex challenges, strengthening family relationships, preventing escalation into statutory services, and helping families achieve sustainable change.

As a Lead Practitioner, you will combine direct practice with coaching, mentoring, and professional leadership responsibilities, helping to embed high-quality, evidence-informed interventions across the service.

About the Role

The Adolescent Help Team works with young people and families where there are emerging or escalating concerns predominantly around extra-familial risks and adolescent vulnerability.

Working within a strengths-based and systemic framework, you will undertake complex family work, complete Family Help Assessments, coordinate Family Help Plans, and support practitioners to deliver high-quality interventions that improve outcomes and reduce risk.

Key Responsibilities

As a Lead Practitioner you will:

• Lead and coordinate interventions with children, young people, and families experiencing complex needs.
• Ensure families receive timely and effective support where there are concerns relating to extra familial harm and risk of family breakdown.
• Develop and oversee high-quality Family Help Plans that are focused on measurable outcomes and sustainable change.
• Work collaboratively with parents, carers, and wider family networks to ensure their voices shape planning and decision-making.
• Support families to identify strengths, build resilience, and develop solutions that promote children's wellbeing and safety.
• Manage a caseload of families requiring intensive support and intervention.
• Work closely with the Adolescent Help Team Leader to improve practice within the team
• Model excellent practice and provide coaching, mentoring, and supervision to colleagues where required.
• Ensure all interventions are evidence-based, purposeful, and outcome-focused.
• Apply statutory guidance, local procedures, and safeguarding policies effectively and consistently.
• Work in partnership with Housing, Health, Education, Police, Community Safety, Adult Services, and other agencies to coordinate effective multi-agency plans.
• Use a range of evidence-informed approaches, including systemic and relational practice methodologies.
• Build effective, trusting relationships with children, young people, and their families.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns relating to children and vulnerable adults are addressed promptly and appropriately.
• Maintain accurate recording and high-quality case management.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a recognised professional qualification in Social Work, Youth Justice, Family Support, Early Help, or a related discipline.
• Has substantial experience working with adolescents and families facing multiple and complex challenges.
• Has robust knowledge of safeguarding, child development, parenting capacity, and adolescent development.
• Demonstrates experience of leading complex interventions and coordinating multi-agency plans.
• Understands the impact of trauma, neglect, domestic abuse, substance misuse, and parental mental health on children and young people.
• Has experience of strengths-based, systemic, restorative, or relationship-focused practice.
• Can confidently analyse risk, formulate plans, and measure outcomes.
• Posesses excellent communication, coaching, and partnership-working skills.
• Is committed to anti-discriminatory practice, inclusion, and delivering excellent services for Greenwich residents.
• Has the ability to support and develop the practice of less experienced colleagues.

What We Offer

At Greenwich, we are committed to creating an environment where practitioners can thrive and deliver their best work.

We offer:

• A stable, supportive and ambitious leadership team.
• High-quality learning and development opportunities.
• Access to reflective supervision and practice development.
• A strong commitment to systemic and relationship-based practice.
• Flexible working arrangements where service needs allow.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Employee wellbeing support and benefits package.

Our Commitment

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees to share this commitment.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve.