Advanced Practitioner - Families First

Advanced Practitioner | Families First | Trafford Council | £37 per hour

We are working with Trafford Council to recruit an experienced Advanced Practitioner to join their Families First (Child in Need) service. This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a senior, practice-focused role within a well-structured and supportive local authority that has invested in strengthening its Child in Need services.

The Families First model has been developed to enhance the quality of assessments and planning for children and families, ensuring consistent and relationship-based practice across the borough.

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Role Overview

As an Advanced Practitioner, you will work within the Child in Need service on a locality basis, supporting children and families who require statutory intervention and assessment. You will hold a varied caseload, including Child in Need and safeguarding work, while also playing a key role in supporting and developing less experienced staff.

This is a hands-on role combining high-quality direct practice with mentoring, coaching, and oversight responsibilities to drive best practice across the team.

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Key Responsibilities

• Undertake Child and Family Assessments and Section 47 enquiries
• Manage a caseload of Child in Need and safeguarding cases
• Develop and progress Child in Need plans, ensuring timely and outcome-focused interventions
• Build strong, relational partnerships with families to support sustainable change
• Support safe step-down of plans in line with family progress and timescales
• Participate in duty on a rota basis
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and supervision to social workers and students
• Support team development and promote high standards of practice
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to ensure coordinated support

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Benefits

• Competitive rate of £37 per hour
• Well-structured and supportive Child in Need service
• Manageable caseloads to enable quality practice
• Opportunity to step into a leadership-focused role
• Strong emphasis on relationship-based and strengths-led practice
• Flexible working arrangements available
• Opportunity to influence practice and support team development

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Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration
• Significant post-qualified experience within children’s services
• Strong experience of Child in Need, safeguarding, and Section 47 work
• Ability to mentor, coach, and support other practitioners
• Confident in assessment, planning, and risk management
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Flexible and proactive approach to practice

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Interested?

If you’re an experienced social worker ready to step into an Advanced Practitioner role where you can influence practice and support others, this is a great opportunity to consider.

For more information or to apply, please contact:

Emily Cooper - 07745200325 | ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com