Senior Practice Lead - Children's Social Care

WMJobs; Hempstalls; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and flexible working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a Practice Lead in the Children and Families service. You will provide expert practice leadership, supervision, coaching and challenge to practitioners delivering strong, relational and legally compliant work with children and families.

The role requires a recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England, plus considerable post‑qualifying experience across safeguarding, court work and care planning.

Qualifications

• recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England
• Post-qualifying experience across safeguarding, children in need, court work and care planning
• Reflective supervision, mentoring and developing practitioners
• Ability to chair complex meetings and make sound evidence-based decisions in high-risk situations
• Commitment to relational, strengths-based and anti-discriminatory practice

Responsibilities

• Provide supervision, coaching and practice support to Lead Practitioners and wider team members.
• Offer expert advice for section 47 enquiries, risk assessment, safety planning and Public Law Outline activity.
• Chair core groups and other meetings with clear decisions and reviewable actions.
• Support allocation and resource decisions, including use of section 17 funding.
• Quality assure practice through observations, audits and performance oversight.
• Deputise for the Principal Manager and lead defined areas of practice, policy development and service improvement.

Job description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a Practice Lead in the Children and Families service. You will provide expert practice leadership, supervision, coaching and challenge to practitioners delivering strong, relational and legally compliant work with children and families.

The role requires a recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England, plus considerable post‑qualifying experience across safeguarding, court work and care planning.