Short Breaks Practitioner

London Borough of Camden; Camden Town; Hybrid; GBP 37,998 - 46,443; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working opportunities

Interest-free loans

Career development and training

Well-being support

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking a compassionate Short Breaks Practitioner to support children with severe disabilities. The role involves leading assessments, advocating for young people, and coordinating with families and health professionals. Candidates should have excellent communication skills, experience with children, and a working knowledge of IT systems. Flexible working options are available, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Must have experience organizing and coordinating services for children and young people.
• Knowledge of issues faced by disadvantaged families is essential.
• Experience in providing support to disabled children and families is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead strengths-based reviews of social care packages for children with disabilities.
• Advocate for young persons during assessments and identify safeguarding concerns.
• Coordinate with health professionals to meet assessed needs.

Skills

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Experience in organizing and developing services for children

Working knowledge of family pressures in socially deprived areas

Experience with children with disabilities

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data recording

Job description

Short Breaks Practitioner (Job Ref: 3903)

Salary: £42,221

Hours per week: 36

Contract Type: Permanent Full‑Time (optional Fixed Term 12 months / 9 months)

Location: 5 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG / Hybrid

Closing Date: Wednesday 10th December 2025 at 23.59

Interview: Wednesday 17th December 2025 (subject to availability)

About the role

We are currently seeking compassionate and skilled Short Breaks Practitioners to join our Children and Young People Disability Service (CYPDS 0–25). This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people with severe to profound disabilities and/or complex health needs.

What You’ll Be Doing / How You’ll Be Involved

Short Breaks are a vital element of Camden Council’s support for children and young people with disabilities and their families. They provide opportunities for children and young people to enjoy positive activities away from their primary carers, while giving parents and carers essential time to rest and recharge.

The Short Breaks Practitioner will lead strengths‑based reviews of social care packages for children and young people with severe to profound disabilities and/or complex health needs. Working collaboratively with the young person and their family, the role ensures positive outcomes that enable each individual to reach their full potential. Key responsibilities include:

• Advocating for the young person during assessments of needs, risks, and capacity, whilst also considering and identifying safeguarding concerns and developing appropriate solutions with managerial support.
• Working closely with SEND colleagues and local educational providers to ensure the aims of the young person’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are consistently met.
• Coordinating with health professionals across children’s and adult services to deliver a systemic approach to meeting assessed needs.
• Preparing young people for adulthood through liaison with statutory, private and voluntary organisations to address holistic needs and achieve positive outcomes.
• Providing practical support and assistance to Social Workers on complex cases and collaborating closely with the Short Breaks Coordinator to ensure high‑quality service delivery.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require an Enhanced DBS. Camden also offers a DBS update service.

All About You

The successful candidate will:

• Be a good communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Have experience organising, coordinating, and developing services for children and young people or working directly with children and young people.
• Have a good working knowledge of the pressures faced by families with children living in socially deprived neighbourhoods as well as the issues faced by disadvantaged families.
• Bring excellent experience of working with children with disabilities and of providing support to disabled children and their families in multi‑cultural communities.
• Have an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel, IT, and data recording systems.

We strongly encourage applicants to write their applications themselves. Please avoid using AI‑generated content when applying.

What We Offer

• 27 days annual leave for new starters, rising to 31 days after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible working opportunities
• Interest‑free loans
• Access to our staff networks
• Career development and training
• Well‑being support and activities

Visit https://www.camdenjobs.co.uk/staff-benefits for more details.

Inclusion and Belonging

At Camden, we want every colleague to feel they belong and can thrive. We welcome applications from all parts of our community, and particularly encourage people from Black, Asian and Other Ethnic Heritage communities, LGBTQ+ people, disabled and neurodiverse people, survivors of domestic abuse, and those from lower socio‑economic backgrounds or with care experience. Click here for more information on our commitment: https://www.camdenjobs.co.uk/inclusion-and-diversity

Adjustments

Camden is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier‑free and accessible. If you would like adjustments during the application, interview or assessment process, please contact us at 020 7974 6655, email [e-mail] or post to 5 Pancras Square, London N1C 4AG.

Application Process

Camden’s recruitment for this role is anonymised to support the objective of reducing the impact of unconscious bias.