Senior Practitioner Safeguarding

Opus People Solutions Ltd; Walsall; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Walsall Council is seeking an experienced Children's Senior Practitioner to join its Safeguarding Service. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled social work professional with strong experience across Child in Need, Child Protection, Public Law Outline, Care Proceedings, and Adoption.

The successful candidate will provide effective help and protection to children, young people, families, and carers, while supporting the development of high-quality social work practice across the team.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker registered in England.
• Extensive experience in Children's Social Care.
• Experience with CIN, CP, PLO, Care Proceedings and Adoption.
• Ability to provide supervision/mentoring of staff.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Responsibilities

• Undertake assessments, planning, interventions and direct work with children and families.
• Manage a complex caseload including CIN, CP, PLO, Care Proceedings and Adoption.
• Lead safeguarding investigations and attend strategy meetings and child protection conferences.
• Complete high-quality assessments, reports and court documentation within timescales.
• Advocate for children and ensure their voices are central to planning and decision-making.
• Provide professional guidance and reflective supervision to social workers and support staff.
• Deliver group supervision sessions and promote learning and reflective practice.
• Support multi-agency partnership work to improve outcomes for children and families.

Skills

Qualified Social Worker

Registered with Social Work England

Significant experience in Children's S

Education

Social Work qualification (registered in England)

Job description

About the Role

Walsall Council is seeking an experienced Children's Senior Practitioner to join its Safeguarding Service. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled social work professional with strong experience across Child in Need, Child Protection, Public Law Outline, Care Proceedings, and Adoption.

The successful candidate will provide effective help and protection to children, young people, families, and carers, while supporting the development of high-quality social work practice across the team. This role combines complex casework responsibilities with practice leadership, supervision, and mentoring of frontline practitioners.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake assessments, planning, interventions, and direct work with children and families.
• Manage a complex caseload involving CIN, CP, PLO, Care Proceedings, and Adoption work.
• Lead safeguarding investigations and attend strategy meetings, child protection conferences, reviews, and other statutory meetings.
• Complete high-quality assessments, reports, and court documentation within agreed timescales.
• Advocate for children and ensure their voices are central to planning and decision-making.
• Build effective working relationships with families, carers, partner agencies, and professionals.
• Act as a practice leader within the team, promoting excellent social work practice.
• Provide professional guidance, reflective supervision, and support to social workers and support staff.
• Support and mentor ASYE Social Workers and Child & Family Officers.
• Deliver group supervision sessions and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and reflective practice.
• Promote restorative and relational practice approaches, including motivational interviewing techniques.
• Work closely with Practice Development Coordinators to ensure consistency and quality across the service.
• Support the Team Manager in monitoring quality, performance, and service delivery.
• Assist with auditing, quality assurance, and oversight of practice standards.
• Use management information systems effectively to support performance and outcomes.
• Keep up to date with legislation, research, statutory guidance, and best practice developments in children's social care.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives and the development of innovative practice approaches.
• Support multi-agency partnership working to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Chair and participate in key meetings and deputise for the Team Manager when required.

Skills/Experience

• Qualified Social Worker.
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Significant experience within Children's Social Care.
• Strong background in Safeguarding, CIN, Child Protection, PLO, Care Proceedings, and Adoption.
• Experience supporting, mentoring, or supervising social workers.
• Excellent assessment, report writing, and court work skills.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. As this role is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.