Senior Practitioner

Senior Practitioner | Duty Hub Team | Staffordshire County Council | £45.00 per hour 

Position: Senior Practitioner
Team: Duty Hub
Contract: Agency
Hours: 37 hours per week
Pay Rate: £45.00 per hour + Internal Mileage
Location: Various Staffordshire bases (Cannock, Lichfield, Stafford, South Staffordshire, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Moorlands, East Staffordshire & Tamworth)
Start Date: ASAP
Working Pattern: Full Time | Hybrid Working (Minimum 1 office day per week)

Sheldon Phillips are working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to recruit experienced Social Workers to join their innovative Duty Hub Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a county-wide peripatetic team, supporting duty services across Staffordshire during periods of increased demand while playing a vital role in safeguarding children and reducing pressures across frontline services.

The Duty Hub has been established following the launch of Staffordshire's Integrated Front Door, providing additional capacity to support district duty teams with new referrals and ensuring children and families receive timely interventions. This is a fast-paced role suited to confident practitioners who enjoy assessment work, thrive under pressure, and can quickly adapt to different teams and localities.

Role Overview

As a Social Worker within the Duty Hub, you will temporarily support district-based duty teams across Staffordshire, managing new safeguarding referrals and ensuring children receive prompt assessments and interventions.

You will undertake Section 47 enquiries, complete Child and Family Assessments, and progress cases through the initial stages of intervention. Where ongoing support is required, you will complete the Initial Child in Need Plan or facilitate the Initial Child Protection Conference before handing the case over to Staffordshire's longer-term Assessment and Staying Together Teams.

This role offers variety, autonomy and the opportunity to make an immediate impact across multiple localities while working alongside experienced managers and practitioners.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage new safeguarding referrals received through Staffordshire's Integrated Front Door.
• Undertake Section 47 Child Protection enquiries and safeguarding investigations.
• Complete statutory Child and Family Assessments within required timescales.
• Undertake initial home visits and direct work with children and families.
• Assess levels of risk and identify appropriate safeguarding interventions.
• Develop and implement Initial Child in Need Plans where appropriate.
• Prepare cases for Initial Child Protection Conferences and present recommendations.
• Ensure effective handover of cases to Assessment and Staying Together Teams following initial intervention.
• Build positive relationships with children, families and partner agencies.
• Work collaboratively with police, education, health and other safeguarding professionals.
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality case recordings.
• Contribute to reducing caseload pressures across duty services by providing flexible support wherever required.

Benefits

• Excellent agency rate of £45.00 per hour.
• Internal mileage paid.
• Hybrid working with a minimum expectation of one office day per week.
• Flexible working arrangements, including the opportunity to discuss compressed hours.
• Access to regular supervision and ongoing professional development.
• Full access to Staffordshire County Council's training programme.
• Access to the Vivup benefits platform offering discounts across retail, restaurants, gyms and much more.
• Opportunity to work across a variety of teams and localities, broadening your experience.
• Supportive management within an established standalone Duty Hub.

Office Locations

The Duty Hub provides support across several Staffordshire locations, including:

• Cannock – Springvale Office (Free onsite parking)
• Lichfield – The Old House (Free onsite parking)
• Stafford – Staffordshire Place 1 (Local paid parking)
• South Staffordshire – South Staffordshire Council Building (Free onsite parking)
• Newcastle-under-Lyme – Castle House (Local paid parking)
• Staffordshire Moorlands – Moorlands House, Leek & Town Hall, Biddulph (Local paid parking)
• East Staffordshire – Grange Street, Burton & Uttoxeter Office (Free onsite parking)
• Tamworth – Tamworth Library (Local paid parking)

Requirements

To be considered for this role you will need:

• Social Work England registration.
• Recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
• Post-qualified experience within Children's Services, particularly Duty, Assessment or Safeguarding teams.
• Strong knowledge of the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children and relevant safeguarding legislation.
• Experience completing Section 47 enquiries and Child and Family Assessments.
• Ability to assess risk confidently and make timely safeguarding decisions.
• Excellent written recording and assessment skills.
• Strong multi-agency working experience.
• Ability to work flexibly across different localities and teams.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Interested?

If you're an experienced frontline Social Worker looking for a varied and rewarding role where you can make an immediate impact across Staffordshire's safeguarding services, we'd love to hear from you.

Emily Cooper
Recruitment Consultant | Sheldon Phillips
07745 200325 | ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com