Senior Practitioner - Children in Care

Senior Practitioner | Children in Care / Leaving Care | Shropshire County Council | £38 per hour

Shropshire County Council is looking for an experienced Senior Practitioner to join its Children in Care / Leaving Care service on a locum basis. This is a strong opportunity for a senior-level practitioner who can provide high-quality support to looked after children and care leavers, while also offering guidance and practice support within the team.

This role would suit a Senior Practitioner or experienced Social Worker with strong Children in Care, Leaving Care or Looked After Children experience, and a clear understanding of permanence, pathway planning and improving outcomes for young people.

Role Overview
As a Senior Practitioner in the Children in Care / Leaving Care service, you will hold a complex caseload of looked after children and care leavers, ensuring plans are robust, drift is challenged and young people receive the support they need to progress safely into adulthood. You will take a leading role in driving good practice, supporting colleagues and promoting child-centred, outcome-focused interventions across the service.

Key responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of complex Children in Care and Leaving Care cases
• Complete statutory visits, care plans, pathway plans and risk assessments to a high standard
• Progress permanence planning and ensure plans remain focused and achievable
• Support care leavers with transition planning, independence work and access to appropriate services
• Provide practice guidance and informal support to less experienced team members
• Ensure the voice of the child and young person is central to all assessments and planning
• Attend and contribute to statutory reviews, professionals meetings and multi-agency forums
• Produce clear, analytical and high-quality case recording, reports and assessments
• Work in partnership with carers, housing, education, health and other agencies to secure positive outcomes

Benefits

• £38 per hour
• Opportunity to work across both Children in Care and Leaving Care services
• Senior-level role with scope to support good practice across the team
• Meaningful work supporting looked after children and young people into adulthood
• Competitive rate within a well-established local authority service

Requirements

• Social Work England registration
• Qualified Social Worker with substantial statutory children’s services experience
• Strong recent experience within Children in Care, Looked After Children or Leaving Care services
• Ability to manage complex casework and support high standards of practice
• Strong knowledge of permanence planning, care planning and pathway planning
• Confident assessment, report-writing and multi-agency working skills
• Senior Practitioner experience or clear evidence of operating at that level

Interested?
If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity, please get in touch with Emily Cooper on ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com or 07745 200325.

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