Senior Practitioner – Safeguarding & Support Team

Herefordshire Council
Salary: £45,777 - £50,091 per annum
Plus: £10,000 Welcome Payment & £4,000 Retention Payment
Contract: Permanent | Full-time | Hybrid working available

Herefordshire Council continues to make significant strides in improving outcomes for children and families, investing heavily in their workforce and infrastructure. The Safeguarding & Support Service plays a vital role in this progress, providing stability and reflective supervision for practitioners at every level.

About the Role

As a Senior Practitioner in the Safeguarding & Support Team, you’ll provide both leadership and direct casework expertise. Working closely with your Team Manager, you’ll oversee complex cases, support newly qualified staff, and model best practice within the Family Safeguarding framework.

You’ll have the autonomy to make key decisions, shape service delivery, and ensure children and families receive high-quality, timely interventions. This is an ideal step for an experienced social worker ready to influence and develop practice standards within a supportive and forward-looking authority.

Key Responsibilities

Hold a reduced caseload of complex Child in Need, Child Protection, and Court cases.
Provide guidance and reflective support to less experienced team members.
Contribute to performance management and quality assurance activities.
Chair or co-chair multi-agency meetings where appropriate.
Model best practice in assessment, planning, and intervention.
Maintain accurate records and reports using the MOSAIC system.

Practice Model

Herefordshire’s Family Safeguarding Model emphasises restorative, relationship-based practice supported by embedded adult specialists in domestic abuse, substance misuse, and mental health. Senior Practitioners play a key part in driving this approach forward — ensuring the model is consistently applied and rooted in collaboration, reflection, and professional curiosity.

The Council promotes a culture of Motivational Interviewing and Restorative Practice, giving practitioners the tools and supervision they need to help families achieve sustainable change.

Requirements

Social Work degree or equivalent qualification.
Social Work England registration.
Extensive experience within Child Protection, CIN, or Court work.
Proven ability to mentor and support colleagues in practice.
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Pool cars available for work travel.
Sponsorship available for candidates with 2+ years UK experience.

Benefits

£10,000 Welcome Payment & £4,000 Retention Payment.
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
Protected professional development time and training budget.
Clear progression pathways to management roles.
Flexible working: flexi-time, job share, part-time hours, and hybrid options.
24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
Payment of Social Work England registration fees.
“Pick Your Perks” benefits portal offering discounts on retail, health, leisure and travel.
31 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days.

Interested?

Contact Josh Da Costa at Sheldon Phillips on 01635 226350 or 07513 834554, or email jdacosta@sheldon-phillips.com to discuss this role in more detail.

Referral Bonus: Know someone perfect for the role? We offer up to £500 for successful referrals.

Apply Today