Senior Practitioner Emergency Duty Team - Fixed Term in Oxford

The Emergency Duty Team is a critical part of our service to children, families and vulnerable adults in Oxfordshire. Our team covers all hours of the week that fall outside of the standard office hours and offers staff a dynamic, fast‑paced role responding to those in our communities who require immediate help and support during emergencies out of hours.

You will be the first point of contact for professionals, members of the public or an individual who has a concern for themselves, for a child, family, or vulnerable adult which cannot wait until normal office hours resume. To ensure the provision of an out of hours’ emergency response and/or intervention to children, young people and families, vulnerable adults and other agencies to address safeguarding concerns and reduce risks until normal office hours resume. To provide out of hours advice and guidance to professionals working with vulnerable adults, children, young people, and families. To be the first point of contact for professionals, children, families and vulnerable adults or members of the public who have a concern and are making an emergency out of hours referral to statutory services. To contribute to and apply the Council’s strategy to support vulnerable adults, children and families through the provision of out of hours’ emergency responses. To provide service delivery in line with Oxfordshire’s principles and values of working with partners, vulnerable adults, children, and families and within the relevant legislative framework.

You will appreciate that this is an important and essential service and, as such, the role requires a significant level of autonomy. Ideally, you would have the relevant experience gained from a statutory child protection service. You need to be a qualified social worker with Social Work England registration and should be someone able to manage competing demands, reflective and analytical, and proportionate in your decision‑making whilst maintaining a clear focus on the best interests of children and vulnerable adults.

It really is true that every single job role here contributes to bettering the lives of the people in our county – we want to do this for our employees too. We are proud of our strong flexible working culture, including the opportunity for flexibility on working hours and the use of technology to support agile working. We offer some of the very best learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development. We have a generous holiday allowance which rises as you remain in employment with us up to 32 days, as well as giving you the option to buy additional holiday. You will also have access to a Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions of up to 19.9% of your salary; a range of local and national retail discounts; and a host of enhanced family‑friendly policies including carers leave and paid time off for volunteering. Due to the nature of this role, the salary also attracts a 15% uplift for working unsociable hours.

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi‑time, full‑time and part‑time working, job sharing, nine‑day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.