At a Glance
- Tasks: Supervise and support Family Help Practitioners and Social Workers to improve outcomes for children and families.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking team shaping Family Help services in Kirklees.
- Benefits: Opportunity to influence practice, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Be part of an innovative service focused on family-centred support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with experience in children and families work.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 46200 £ per year.
We are looking for four experienced and motivated Practice Supervisors to join our newly established Family Help teams. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a developing service shaped by the Department for Education’s Families First reforms, which are focused on providing the right help to children and families at the earliest opportunity, strengthening multi-agency working and supporting families to stay safely together wherever possible.
As Practice Supervisor, you will play a key role in supporting high-quality, child-focused practice across the Family Help service. You will supervise Family Help Practitioners and Social Workers, providing day-to-day practice oversight, reflective supervision, professional guidance and support with risk analysis, assessment and planning. You will work closely with the Team Manager to ensure children, young people and families receive timely, proportionate and effective support. The role will involve promoting strong practice standards, supporting practitioners to make evidence-based decisions, and helping to embed new ways of working as Family Help becomes established across Kirklees. You may be required to work outside normal office hours.
What you will be doing:
- Providing reflective supervision, support and guidance to Family Help Practitioners and Social Workers.
- Supporting practitioners to undertake clear, analytical assessments and develop plans that improve outcomes for children and families.
- Helping staff to manage risk confidently and proportionately, ensuring safeguarding remains central to all decision making.
- Modelling strong, relationship-based and evidence-informed practice with children, young people and families.
- Supporting the Team Manager with workload allocation, performance oversight, quality assurance and service development.
- Chairing and contributing to multi-agency meetings, ensuring clear outcomes, actions and review arrangements are agreed.
- Working collaboratively with partners across education, health, police, voluntary and community services to provide joined-up support.
- Contributing to the development of Family Help practice as part of the wider Families First reforms.
About You:
We are looking for someone who is confident in supervising and supporting practitioners, able to provide both challenge and encouragement, and committed to improving outcomes for children and families. You will bring strong assessment, analysis and risk management skills, alongside the ability to work effectively with families and professional partners. You will be a qualified and Social Work England registered social worker with substantial post-qualifying experience in children and families work. You will have experience of complex case management, safeguarding, child protection and multi-agency working, as well as the ability to support practitioners to deliver high-quality assessments, plans and interventions.
Why join us?
This is a unique opportunity to help shape a new Family Help offer for children and families in Kirklees. You will be joining at an important point of service development, with the chance to support practitioners, influence practice and contribute to a more integrated, family-centred system of help and protection. At Kirklees, we want to be innovative, creative and ambitious in the way we work with children, families and communities. We are looking for people who are positive, honest, respectful, flexible, communicative and supportive, and who share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Practice Supervisor (Qualified) - Family Help Team employer: Children's Social Work Matters
Children's Social Work Matters in Hull is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. With a strong focus on employee growth, the organisation offers comprehensive training and development opportunities tailored to all experience levels, ensuring that every social worker can thrive in their role. Located in a vibrant community, employees benefit from a culture that prioritises meaningful outcomes for children and families, making it a rewarding place to work.
Contact Details:
Children's Social Work Matters Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Practice Supervisor (Qualified) - Family Help Team
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Children's Social Work Matters.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Children's Social Work Matters!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Children's Social Work Matters, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Children's Social Work Matters or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Practice Supervisor (Qualified) - Family Help Team
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Children's Social Work Matters:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Children's Social Work Matters! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Children's Social Work Matters
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
