Senior Practitioner - Children's Services Leader

Opus People Solutions Limited; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking an experienced Senior Practitioner to lead a Children’s Services team. You will manage a complex caseload, coach social workers, and ensure high-quality safeguarding and court-involved work in line with the Big 6 Practice Standards.

You’ll provide professional leadership, supervise less experienced practitioners, and drive continuous improvement across the service to deliver better outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

• Essential: Recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, Master’s, Postgraduate Diploma or approved fast-track).
• Current Social Work England registration.
• Significant experience with children, young people and families in a statutory setting.
• Strong experience in child protection, children in need, court work, complex assessments; safeguarding investigations.
• Excellent report writing and analytical skills; ability to lead and mentor colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership and supervision within the team.
• Manage a highly complex caseload with safeguarding and risk considerations.
• Undertake statutory assessments and interventions.
• Develop and review plans to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Chair and participate in safeguarding and childcare meetings; prepare court reports.

Skills

Child protection

Court work

Risk assessment

Report writing

Mentoring

Leadership

Education

Recognised Social Work qualification

Job description

Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking an experienced Senior Practitioner to lead a Children’s Services team. You will manage a complex caseload, coach social workers, and ensure high-quality safeguarding and court-involved work in line with the Big 6 Practice Standards.

You’ll provide professional leadership, supervise less experienced practitioners, and drive continuous improvement across the service to deliver better outcomes for children and families.