Practice Lead (SEND and Children with Disabilities)

Liverpool City Council; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave (plus BH)

Flexible/Agile working

LGPS participation

Training and development opportunities

Health & wellbeing programme

Cycle to work

Lease car scheme

Employee volunteering

Medicash

Job summary

Liverpool City Council seeks a Practice Lead (SEND & Children with Disabilities) to strengthen service delivery and workforce development for our SEND and Children with Disabilities teams. The role focuses on learning, coaching and implementing our collaborative City-wide practice model.

Ideal candidates are registered children's social workers with experience in training and a passion for improving outcomes for children and families within a dynamic public sector environment.

Qualifications

• Registered children's social worker with current registration (Social Work England).
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach others in SEND/Children with Disabilities.
• Experience in leading learning, training or workforce development initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Deliver robust and creative learning programme for our social work and alternatively qualified workforce.
• Support the delivery of the 'Change' with specific reference to SEND and Children with Disabilities as we embark of significant national Social Care and SEND reform.
• Work closely with Designated Social Care Officer and senior leaders within Education and Inclusion and Social Care/Family Help Directorates.
• Lead training, learning and development sessions aligned to our Children’s Workforce Academy Operating Model.
• Act as a visible advocate for excellent, relationship-based practice and our Model of Practice 'Our City, Our Children, Together'.

Skills

Social work expertise

Mentoring/coaching

Collaborative working

Education

Registered children's social worker

Tools

Practice Educator training

Job description

Job Introduction

Job title: Practice Lead (SEND & Children with Disabilities)

A bit about us:

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do.

Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces - there's really something for everyone!

Our Practice Model - "Our City, Our Children, Together" - was chosen by colleagues, parents and carers, children, and young people to reflect our collective commitment to working collaboratively, it is more than just a practice model, it is a shared vision. Every part of this model has been co-produced with the people who access and deliver our services. It represents our values, our relationships, and our belief that, by working together, we can create the best outcomes for children, young people, and their networks. This is a model we can be proud of and one that truly belongs to all of us.

The role:

This is a 12-month fixed term contract role to support the continued improvement of service delivery to our SEND and Children with Disabilities workforce.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced registered children's social worker, ideally a Practice Educator (or willing to work towards the qualification), with a passion for supporting others and championing excellence across our SEND and Children with Disabilities practice system.

• Deliver robust and creative learning programme for our social work and alternatively qualified workforce
• Support the delivery of the 'Change' with specific reference to SEND and Children with Disabilities as we embark of significant national Social Care and SEND reform
• Work closely with our Designated Social Care Officer and our senior leaders within the Education and Inclusion and Social Care/Family Help Directorates
• Lead training, learning and development sessions that are dynamic, evidence-informed, and aligned to our Children's Workforce Academy Operating Model
• Act as a visible advocate for excellent, relationship-based practice and advocate our Model of Practice 'Our City, Our Children, Together'
• Support our Children's Workforce Academy faculties and implement our Children and Young People's Workforce Strategy, ensuring every practitioner is equipped and empowered to deliver impact across our SEND and Children with Disabilities practice system
• Contribute to quality assurance and practice improvement activity through coaching, mentoring and reflective supervision/practice

You’ll be confident, motivated and collaborative, with a drive to inspire others and improve outcomes for children and young people. If you’ve mentored and supported colleagues before and thrive on creating positive, meaningful change, then we want to hear from you!

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and up to date registration with Social Work England as a qualified Social Worker.

This role is fixed term to cover a gap in service delivery to support SEND improvement work whilst confirmation is received regarding workforce development in SEND and will end 31 October 2027.

Our offer to you:

• At least 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years' service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - a "Flexibility First" approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme - option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes
• Drive Time - a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• Employee Volunteering Scheme
• Medicash

Next steps:

Closing date: Midnight on 18 October 2026

Shortlisting date: 19 October 2026

Interview date: 27 October 2026

Interview type: Face-to-face

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Once the role has closed, you will not be able to submit an application, and we are unable to reopen the vacancy for you to complete it.

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion, please contact Harriet Cadman, Recruitment and Retention Lead [e-mail].

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at [e-mail].

Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications. Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad.

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.

This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.