Support Practitioner - Children We Care For (South)

Oxfordshire County Council; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS

Flexible working

Employee assistance

Job summary

Oxfordshire County Council is seeking a Children’s Care and Support Practitioner to work alongside Social Workers, turning care plans into practical action for children, young people and families. You will be out in homes and communities building trust and delivering hands-on support.

You will help with independence planning, life story work, and safeguarding, using your collaborative approach to engage professionals from partners and to reflect children's voices in decisions that affect their

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children, young people or families in social care, education, youth work or related settings.
• Ability to build positive relationships that encourage trust, confidence and change.
• Strong communication style and adaptability to different situations.
• Resilient, proactive and able to work independently while seeking support when needed.

Responsibilities

• Help progress care plans and provide practical, hands-on support.
• Prepare young people for independence and support family reunifications.
• Deliver life story work to help children understand and process experiences.
• Supervise family time and contribute to safeguarding and assessments.
• Maintain accurate records and reflect children's voices in plans.

Skills

Communication skills

Relationship building

Resilience and organisation

Job description

About the Role

As a Children we Care for Support Practitioner, you'll work closely alongside Social Workers to help progress children's care plans and provide practical, hands‑on support to children, young people and families. You'll be the person helping turn plans into action, ensuring that children receive the support they need when they need it most.

Your work could involve helping a young person prepare for independence, supporting family reunification, delivering life story work that helps children understand and make sense of their experiences, supervising family time, carrying out parenting assessments or providing additional practical support to help maintain stable placements. Every piece of work you undertake will have one thing in common: helping children achieve better outcomes and stronger futures.

You'll spend time directly with children and families, often in their homes and communities, building trusting relationships and helping them make meaningful progress. You'll work collaboratively with colleagues and partner organisations, attend professional meetings, contribute to assessments and ensure that children's voices are reflected in plans and decisions that affect their lives.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys being out and about, building relationships, finding practical solutions and seeing the positive impact of their support. You'll be a key part of the wider team, contributing to safeguarding, supporting the duty service and helping ensure children and families receive consistent, high‑quality support throughout their journey.

About you

We're looking for someone who believes in the potential of children, young people and families, even when life feels difficult.

You'll have experience of working with children, young people or families, perhaps within social care, education, youth work, early years, community services or another related setting. You'll understand the challenges that some families face and be able to build positive relationships that encourage trust, confidence and change.

You'll be a strong communicator who can adapt your approach to different situations and people. Whether you're supporting a child through life story work, working with parents to strengthen family relationships or collaborating with professionals from other agencies, you'll know how to engage people positively and professionally.

You'll be resilient, organised and proactive, with the confidence to work independently while knowing when to seek advice and support. You'll be comfortable managing sensitive situations, maintaining accurate records and using your judgement to identify emerging risks and safeguarding concerns.
Most importantly, you'll be passionate about helping children achieve their potential. You'll bring energy, compassion and a genuine commitment to improving lives, understanding that sometimes the smallest conversations, interventions or moments of support can have the biggest impact on a child's future.
If you're looking for a role where you can build meaningful relationships, make a visible difference and be part of a service that puts children at the heart of everything it does, we'd love to hear from you.

Rewards and benefits

• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays).
• Option to buy additional holiday.
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Flexible working.
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24x7.
• Range of family-friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.

Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to: Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to: Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to: Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi‑time, part time working, job sharing, nine‑day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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