Childrens Social Work Advanced Practitioner

Job description

Lead practice. Develop others. Change lives in Leicester.

Full Time (37 hours) | Permanent & 12-month Fixed Term Opportunities

If you are ready to take the next step in your social work career and make a real difference then we would love to receive your application.

This is a brilliant time to join Leicester City Council. Our Children's Social Work Service is proud to be rated Good by Ofsted, with recognition for our strong focus on participation and direct work with children and families.

We're looking for experienced Advanced Practitioners who are passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and who want to play a key role in developing the next generation of social workers.

Why join us

At Leicester, children are at the heart of everything we do. We are continuing to invest in our workforce, creating a supportive, forward-thinking environment where you can thrive.

In this role, you'll:

- Take on a lead practice role, working with complex safeguarding cases

- Support and develop newly qualified and less experienced social workers

- Shape best practice through coaching, mentoring, and reflective supervision

- Help drive innovation and continuous improvement across the service

You'll be based within our Children in Need Service and Single Assessment Team, working with families involved in Child in Need and Child Protection plans, as well as those in care proceedings.

A progressive and supportive service

We don't stand still. You'll be part of a service that:

- Uses Signs of Safety to build strong, meaningful partnerships with families

- Embeds trauma-informed practice across all work

- Is leading the way by integrating the Lundy Model of Participation across children's services

Develop your career with us

We're committed to helping you grow, professionally and personally.

You'll benefit from:

- A comprehensive learning and development programme

- Opportunities to progress your career and develop specialisms

- Dedicated support for coaching, mentoring and practice education

- A strong focus on emotional wellbeing and resilience

What you'll be doing

- Managing a caseload of complex safeguarding work

- Providing hands-on support to colleagues through joint visits and case discussions

- Delivering coaching, mentoring and reflective supervision

- Supporting learning through training, workshops and bite-sized sessions

- Working closely with managers and L&D to strengthen practice across the team

What you'll bring

You'll be an experienced, confident social worker who is ready to step into a leadership role in practice.

We're looking for:

- Significant post-qualifying experience (Level 3 Social Worker)

- Strong knowledge of children's legislation and safeguarding

- The confidence to manage risk and make sound decisions

- A passion for developing others and sharing your expertise

- A recognised Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration

- Practice Educator status (or willingness to work towards it)

You'll also need a full driving licence, the right to work in the UK, and will require an Enhanced DBS check.

What we offer

Alongside making a genuine impact on children's lives, you'll enjoy:

- Generous annual leave

- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme

- Flexible and agile working to support work-life balance

- Access to training and development opportunities

- A range of flexible benefits, including travel discounts and relocation support (where applicable)

Join us

We're building a diverse, talented workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Our recruitment process is designed to be welcoming, supportive and fair—so you can be at your best throughout.

For an informal chat about the role, contact:

Sonum Hussain
[email protected]

0116 454 5923

Or

Heather Brookfield
[email protected]

0116 454 5923