Senior Practitioner - Children in Care

Peterborough City Council; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Peterborough is seeking a dedicated Senior Practitioner to support children in care. The role involves advocacy, collaboration with a committed team, and driving service improvements. Candidates should be registered with Social Work England and possess strong interpersonal and decision-making skills. The position offers competitive annual leave, a pension scheme, and additional development opportunities.

Benefits

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Access to discounts via Vivup

Car lease scheme

Development opportunities

Paid volunteering hours

Qualifications

• Experience supporting team members with development.
• In-depth knowledge of legislation regarding leaving care practice.
• Ability to make key decisions creatively.

Responsibilities

• Advocating for children in care.
• Supporting team managers and colleagues.
• Driving practice improvement initiatives.

Skills

Social Work Registration

Interpersonal Skills

Detail-oriented

Motivation

Emotional Intelligence

Education

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

All about the Role

We are seeking a reflective, proactive, and resilient Senior Practitioner who is passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people supported by the Children in Care - Corporate Parenting Service. We currently have one full-time position available.

As Corporate Parents, we are committed to ensuring our children and young people have access to the right support and services to help them thrive and achieve throughout their journey in care. We hold high aspirations for them and are dedicated to achieving the best outcomes through SMART goals, trauma-informed practice, and a restorative, relationship-based approach.

At Peterborough, we are driven by a shared ambition to deliver aspirational outcomes for the young people we support. As a Senior Practitioner in our Children in Care Service, you will play a pivotal role in advocating for and supporting our children. You will also support the Team Manager and colleagues in areas such as performance, practice development workshops, and service improvement initiatives.

All about our Team

Our management team is supportive, and our social workers are deeply committed to achieving the best for our Children in Care. We are a compassionate, strengths-based team with a strong sense of community. Our team culture is built on mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to making a difference. We value open communication, continuous learning, and peer support.

In 2023, Peterborough's Children's Services received an Ofsted judgement of Inadequate'. Since then, we have been working with determination to improve our practice and ensure we are delivering the best possible outcomes for our children and young people. With a new Head of Corporate Parenting and Service Manager in place, this is an exciting time to join us. We invite you to be part of our improvement journey and help shape the future of our service.

Our purpose-built office offers beautiful views of the river and surrounding green spaces. Conveniently located near major road and rail links, it fosters collaboration and supports the seamless integration of services to benefit our children in care.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this role, please don't hesitate to contact our Service Manager, Lisa Hilson at [e-mail], or Team Manager, Marie Hennessy-Quentin at [e-mail]

All about You

• You are currently registered with Social Work England.
• You are diligent, detail-oriented, and committed to high standards of practice.
• You have experience in supporting team members with their development and performance.
• You possess in-depth knowledge of current legislation and guidance, particularly around leaving care practice.
• You thrive in diverse, supportive teams and feel empowered to make key decisions, using creativity and innovation to solve complex challenges.
• You bring excellent interpersonal skills, high motivation, resilience, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness.
• You hold a full driving licence and are willing and able to travel between locations.

All about our Benefits

We value our colleagues and have developed a number of benefits in addition to our generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays, sick pay and local government pension scheme

• Access to a range of benefits via Vivup, including in-store and online discounts as well as our Cycle to Work and Home & Electronics schemes
• Buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro-rata)
• Access to car lease scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities including apprenticeships to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to our equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to receive Employee Recognition Awards

All about our Commitments

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success.

We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible. If you are disabled and require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.