Sessional Missing from Care Practitioner North West

The Children's Society; Manchester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Maternity leave

Paternity leave

Pension up to 8%

Free counselling

Professional development

Volunteer time

Job summary

The Children's Society is seeking a Sessional Missing from Care Practitioner in the North West to deliver the Missing From Home Return Interview Service. You will work within a multi-disciplinary team to support children missing from care, assess risks, and provide short-term support.

As part of our Youth Impact domain, you will help to safeguard children and young people, manage your caseload, and contribute to a safe, supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Experience of working directly with vulnerable children, particularly those missing or in the care of local authorities.
• Substantial experience undertaking assessments of need and risk and planning interventions.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and inter-agency collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Complete Missing from Care Return Interviews with children and young people.
• Assess needs and risk, providing short-term support.
• Take direct responsibility for working with referred children and manage own caseload.
• Co-work interventions with colleagues from the multi-disciplinary team and with other agencies.
• Ensure safeguarding procedures are followed and supervised appropriately.
• Work with children and their families to enable them to have a voice and influence in our work.

Skills

Experience with vulnerable children

Assessment of need and risk

Job description

Sessional Missing from Care Practitioner North West (6177)

To deliver the Missing From Home Return Interview Service, the Successful applicant will work within a multi-disciplinary approach in response to children missing from care. Ensuring that children and young people who are at risk of or are missing, are kept safe and supported to reduce or prevent missing episodes.

Benefits include but not limited to:

• Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
• We match up to 8% pension
• Free counselling service
• Opportunities to develop and widen your skills
• 2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation

About us:
The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

Our Youth Impact domain creates impact for children and young people. With highly skilled and experienced staff working across England and Wales, we provide direct support to children, young people, parents and carers, as well as conduct research and influence Government to make changes. We also provide training for professionals. Our value driven team change the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help and expertise, tomorrow we can support even more.

• To complete Missing from Care Return Interviews with children and young people.
• Assess needs and risk, providing short term support
• Take specific responsibility for direct work with referred children and young people and manage own caseload
• To co-work interventions with colleagues from the multi-disciplinary team and those in other agencies
• To ensure all safeguarding procedures are followed and supervised appropriately
• To work with children and your people to enable them to have a voice and influence in our work.

Experience

• Experience of working directly with vulnerable children particularly Who are missing and in care of local authorities
• Substantial experience of undertaking assessments of need and risk and planning interventions.

Closing date: Midnight on 27th August 2026

Interviews:Interview date yet to be confirmed

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 5 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.

In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.

AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters