Senior Practitioner - Adolescent Service

The Methodist Church in Britain; Twickenham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing package

CPD time off

Relocation package

Retention payments

Refer a Friend scheme

CARE development support

Annual leave

Sick pay

Pension

Mileage

Flexible working

Job summary

The Methodist Church in Britain is seeking a Senior Practitioner to join the South Adolescent Team, working across Cambridge City, South and East Cambridgeshire. The role involves a small caseload of 12+ year olds, with focus on safeguarding, assessment and multi-agency collaboration.

You will provide leadership, mentor colleagues, and contribute to Families First reforms while maintaining flexible working patterns including home working. Social Work England registration is required.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in statutory social work settings.
• High level knowledge and skills in assessment, child in need, child protection and children in care.
• Confidence in working with teenagers and their families.

Responsibilities

• Carry a small caseload of around 6-8 children aged 12+ with safeguarding concerns.
• Provide professional leadership for children with complex needs.
• Undertake child in need, child protection and children in care work, plus some family assessments.
• Support the Team Manager in mentoring colleagues and developing good practice.
• Deputise for the Team Manager when required.
• Lead participation in Families First reforms in East Cambridgeshire.
• Visit children at home or in the community and attend meetings.

Skills

Assessment

Child protection

Teen focus

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

This Senior Practitioner post sits in the South Adolescent Team, working across Cambridge City, South and East Cambridgeshire with young people at risk outside the home. The 12-month fixed-term or secondment role centres on a small caseload of children aged 12 and over, combining child in need, assessment and child protection work with mentoring colleagues. Flexible working with regular home working is offered, and the post takes a lead on the Families First pilot in East Cambridgeshire. Social Work England registration is required.

What the job involves

• Carry a small caseload of around 6-8 children aged 12 and over whose main safeguarding concerns relate to risk outside the home
• Provide professional leadership for children with multiple complex needs and vulnerabilities, in situations involving risk, complexity and safety
• Undertake child in need, child protection (including ROTH CP framework) and children in care work, plus some child and family assessments
• Support the Team Manager in mentoring colleagues and developing good practice in the team
• Deputise for the Team Manager at times
• Take a leading role for the Adolescent Service in implementing the Families First reforms, particularly the East Cambridgeshire pilot
• Visit children at home or in the community, attend meetings with professional networks and complete written work

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker

Registration & licences

• Social Work England registration

Experience

• Experience of working in statutory social work settings

Skills & knowledge

• High-level knowledge and skills in assessment, child in need, child protection and children in care
• Confidence in working with teenagers and their families, building relationships and making a difference locally

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check

Other

• Ability to work from a variety of locations and travel countywide independently

What’s offered

• Comprehensive wellbeing package, also available to family
• 6 days of protected time each year for CPD
• Relocation package (eligibility applies)
• Scalable retention payments of up to £9,118 (pro rata) over three years, starting after the first full year
• Refer a Friend scheme paying a £350 introduction fee for referred social workers who are hired
• Access to the Cambridgeshire Academy for Reaching Excellence (CARE) development support
• Annual leave, sick pay, pension and mileage
• Flexible working, including regular home working