Advanced Practitioner – Children’s Services – AR in Grantham

Location: Grantham, with travel across South Kesteven East

Working Pattern: Hybrid, with full-time office-based working during duty weeks

Office Base: Grantham – free parking available

Area Covered: South Kesteven East, including Grantham, Bourne, Stamford and surrounding rural areas

Job Purpose

We are seeking an experienced Advanced Practitioner – Children’s Services to join a front-line safeguarding team covering the South Kesteven East area. The successful candidate will be responsible for completing assessments of children and families where safeguarding concerns have been identified and providing ongoing social work support where required. You will manage cases from initial referral through to closure, or where necessary through Child in Need (CIN), Child Protection (CP) and Care Proceedings, providing continuity of Social Worker throughout the case.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete assessments of children and families where safeguarding concerns have been raised.
• Undertake Section 47 investigations where there is concern that a child may be suffering, or may be likely to suffer, significant harm.
• Manage and support children subject to Child in Need and Child Protection Plans.
• Undertake statutory visits and direct work with children and families.
• Manage cases from referral through assessment, intervention and eventual closure.
• Where necessary, progress cases through Child in Need, Child Protection and Care Proceedings.
• Prepare high-quality assessments, reports and other documentation for court proceedings.
• Work effectively with parents, children, families and partner agencies to safeguard children and promote positive outcomes.
• Maintain accurate and timely case records in line with statutory requirements.
• Respond to new referrals and undertake initial visits during designated duty weeks.
• Exercise professional judgement when assessing risk and determining appropriate interventions.
• Work as part of a multi-agency safeguarding environment.

Duty Arrangements

The team operates a three-week duty cycle, consisting of:

• 1 week on duty
• 2 weeks off duty

During duty weeks, there is an expectation that Social Workers will be office-based five days per week and available to respond to new cases, referrals and undertake initial visits. During duty periods, the team may also be required to work from Bourne.

Essential Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker with relevant professional registration.
• Minimum 3 years’ post-qualifying experience.
• Significant experience in a front-line children’s safeguarding role.
• Experience completing Section 47 investigations – essential.
• Strong experience working with Child in Need and Child Protection cases.
• Experience undertaking children’s and family assessments.
• Experience managing complex safeguarding cases.
• Experience preparing reports and assessments for court proceedings.
• Ability to manage cases from referral through to closure or care proceedings.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, procedures and statutory requirements.
• Ability to work effectively with children, families and partner agencies.
• Ability to work across the South Kesteven East area, including Grantham, Bourne and Stamford.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience as an Advanced Practitioner or Senior Children’s Social Worker.
• Experience of public and private law proceedings.
• Experience of care proceedings and providing evidence/reports for court.
• Experience managing complex child protection cases from referral through to conclusion.

Location & Travel

The main office is based in Grantham, with free on-site parking available. The service covers the whole of South Kesteven East, including Grantham, Bourne, Stamford and surrounding rural areas. The successful candidate must therefore be comfortable travelling across the locality when required.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an experienced children’s Social Worker with a strong front-line safeguarding background, confident in undertaking Section 47 investigations and managing CIN and CP cases. They will be comfortable taking ownership of cases from initial referral through to closure and, where necessary, through care proceedings, while working collaboratively with children, families and partner agencies.