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- Tasks: Lead complex cases and support families in need while guiding fellow practitioners.
- Company: Join the supportive Cambridgeshire City Family Support and Safeguarding Team.
- Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive wellbeing package, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while advancing your social work career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in complex case management and supervision.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to your growth and wellbeing.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Social Worker and ready to take the next step in your career? We are looking for a Senior Practitioner to join us in our Cambridge City Family Support and Safeguarding Team. Practitioners in the Family Support & Safeguarding team tell us how much they really value the supportive relationships they have with their colleagues and how flexibly everyone chips in to help one another.
We manage a varied caseload of Child in Need, Children in Need of Protection, Public Law Outline and care proceedings, focusing on children up to the age of 18. We use a Motivational Interviewing approach where you will act in partnership with children and their families to achieve sustainable change and improved outcomes for children. This is an exciting and creative time to join us in Family Support and Safeguarding, and we would welcome applications from a diverse range of workers to enhance our existing workforce. The role is hybrid with a mix of home and office working. The office base is Fawcett House in Trumpington, Cambridge.
If this sounds like an environment where you would thrive, we would love to hear from you! For more information, call Nathalie on 01223 475920 or email joinus@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Interviews will be held week commencing 2nd March 2026. Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Our benefits
- We value our colleagues in Cambridgeshire County Council and have developed a number of benefits in addition to the basics like annual leave, sick pay, pension and mileage.
- A comprehensive wellbeing package to cover all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work, which can also be accessed by your family.
- 6 days of protected time each year to support in maintaining your Continuous Professional Development.
- A relocation package (eligibility applies).
- Scalable retention payments of up to £9,118 over a 3 year period, starting after your first full year of employment.
- A Refer a Friend Scheme where if you refer another Social Worker to us who is subsequently employed by us as a result of that introduction, we will pay you an introduction fee of £350.
- Access to our Cambridgeshire Academy for Reaching Excellence (CARE) who will support your development, enabling you to become the best practitioner you can be.
For more information and to see our other benefits, take a look at the benefits brochure attached to this advert.
What will you be doing?
Day-to-day responsibilities of a Senior Practitioner in Family Support and Safeguarding include:
- Providing leadership in high complex cases which involve risk, complexity and safety of children, young people and families.
- Providing written and verbal reports for a variety of settings - including for attendance at court - that are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence.
- Leading, guiding and directing Social Workers and Child Practitioners, supporting with their performance and development, including supervision.
- Support in planning, allocation and review of cases.
- Support with the recruitment and induction of staff.
About you
We are looking for confident and dynamic individuals who enjoy making a difference in their local community, are curious and spot things that others might not see, enjoy building relationships and like to explore possibilities. You must:
- Be a qualified Social Worker with a Social Work England registration.
- Have the ability to work from a variety of locations and travel countywide independently.
- This is a Senior Practitioner post, you must be able to demonstrate experience in complex case management, court proceedings, and providing informal support or supervision to others.
For a full list of the requirements of the role, please check out the Job Description & Person Specification.
About us
Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes. Our four values are central to our culture, driving everything we do. We are proud to serve the diverse communities of Cambridgeshire and want our workforce to be reflective of this diversity, which we firmly believe benefits our colleagues, the organisation and our communities.
If you don’t meet every single requirement in the job role but think this could be you, please don’t be put off. We are committed to building a workplace that is compassionate and inclusive as well as diverse, so if you think you could be a good candidate for this role please consider applying and speak to the recruiting manager if you have any questions.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, along with our employee network 'IDEAL' and self-organised peer support groups help us to foster an inclusive, supportive and safe working environment where people feel valued, respected, and empowered. We collect relevant diversity data for monitoring as part of the recruitment process to understand the diversity of our applicants and monitor any trends throughout the recruitment processes so that we can take meaningful action. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader.
We fully support providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, as well as when you join us, and we encourage candidates to contact the Hiring Manager, whose details can be found in the advert, to discuss any adjustment needs. Through a Guaranteed Interview Scheme, we will offer an interview to all applicants who disclose a disability and meet the essential criteria for a job vacancy. On your application form you can indicate you are disabled. Some examples of reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process could include additional time to complete an assessment or printing a document on pastel coloured paper with larger font size and line spacing. We would value talking about what might be possible to enable you to join us and thrive, so if there is something that would help you to do your best in your journey with us, please get in touch.
Visit our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Senior Practitioner - Cambridge City Family Support and Safeguarding Team employer: Cambridge County Council
Contact Detail:
Cambridge County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioner - Cambridge City Family Support and Safeguarding Team
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who might know someone in the Cambridge City Family Support and Safeguarding Team. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your Motivational Interviewing skills. Think of real-life examples where you've made a difference in complex cases. This will show them you're not just experienced, but also passionate about the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to research the team culture! Understanding their values and how they support each other can help you tailor your responses during the interview. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of their community.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and the benefits we offer, making it easier for you to prepare.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Practitioner - Cambridge City Family Support and Safeguarding Team
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for social work shine through! Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in your previous roles, especially in complex case management. We want to see that you’re not just qualified, but genuinely excited about the impact you can have.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the job description. Highlight your experience with Child in Need and safeguarding cases, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with court proceedings. This shows us that you understand what we’re looking for and that you’re ready to hit the ground running!
Be Clear and Concise: We appreciate clarity! When providing written reports or descriptions of your experience, keep it concise and to the point. Use bullet points if necessary to make it easy for us to read. Remember, we’re looking for informative content that showcases your skills without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the information you need about the role and our fantastic benefits. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of a Senior Practitioner. Brush up on your knowledge of complex case management, court proceedings, and the Motivational Interviewing approach. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re ready for the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to manage high-complexity cases. Think about times when you’ve supported colleagues or made a significant impact on a child’s outcome. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can hit the ground running.
✨Emphasise Teamwork
Since the team values supportive relationships, be ready to talk about how you collaborate with others. Share instances where you’ve worked effectively in a team, helped colleagues, or contributed to a positive work environment. This will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or the challenges they face. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you. Plus, it gives you a chance to engage with the interviewers on a deeper level.
