Senior Practitioner - Children in Care

£33.30 per hour | Locum contract
Working pattern: Hybrid – 2 days per week in the office
Based at Lifford House, Birmingham

This is a strong opportunity for an experienced Senior Practitioner to join a well-supported Children in Care service based at Lifford House. The team has a stable, permanent Team Manager and a knowledgeable, genuinely supportive Advanced Practitioner, so you’re walking into a set-up where good practice is recognised and backed.

About the Role

You’ll hold complex Children in Care cases and play a key role in driving permanency planning, ensuring statutory requirements are met, and supporting high-quality decision-making across the team. This post suits someone confident in court work, able to work at pace, and calm under pressure.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of Children in Care, ensuring high-quality planning and timely progression

• Lead on care planning, permanence planning and multi-agency coordination to secure stable outcomes

• Undertake and oversee work connected to care proceedings, contributing to statements, evidence, and court-directed work

• Chair and contribute effectively to key meetings including LAC Reviews, PEPs, professionals meetings and placement planning

• Complete statutory visits, direct work, and purposeful interventions to progress plans for children

• Provide case guidance and practice support to colleagues where required, modelling strong analysis and good recording

• Maintain accurate, defensible case records in line with statutory guidance and local procedures

• Work closely with the Team Manager, AP, IROs, carers, and partner agencies to deliver safe and consistent practice

Practice Model

The team is focused on relationship-based, child-centred practice with a clear emphasis on timely permanency, strong risk analysis, and purposeful planning. You’ll be expected to show professional curiosity, evidence your decision-making, and keep the child’s lived experience at the centre of every plan.

Requirements

• Social Work degree (or equivalent) and registration with Social Work England

• Recent experience within a Children in Care / Looked After Children setting

• Strong court knowledge and confidence working within proceedings and legal frameworks

• Ability to work hybrid – 2 days per week in the office at Lifford House

• Driving licence desirable

Benefits

• £33.30 per hour

• Hybrid working (2 office days per week)

• Supportive leadership: stable permanent Team Manager + approachable, knowledgeable AP

• Meaningful statutory work with a clear focus on permanency and outcomes

Interested?

Contact Emily Cooper - 07745 200325 | ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com

Referral bonus available – refer a friend and earn up to £300 (subject to terms).