At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex cases and support families to create positive change.
- Company: Join the supportive team at Cambridgeshire County Council.
- Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive wellbeing package, competitive salary, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in complex case management.
The predicted salary is between 46956 - 50157 £ per year.
About the role
Looking for your next challenge as an experienced Social Worker? This is your opportunity to step into a rewarding Senior Practitioner role within our Cambridge City Family Support and Safeguarding Team, where your expertise can help shape brighter futures.
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. The role is hybrid with a mix of home and office working. The office base is Fawcett House in Trumpington, Cambridge.
What will you be doing?
- 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're 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, enjoys building relationships and likes 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.
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.
- Scalable retention payments of up to £9,118 over a 3 year period, starting after your first full year of employment.
- A relocation package (eligibility applies).
- 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’ll 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.
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.
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 to discuss any adjustment needs.
Senior Practitioner - Family Support and Safeguarding City Team in Cambridge employer: Grafham Water Center
Cambridgeshire County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that values leadership and collaboration. With opportunities for professional growth and comprehensive training, employees can thrive in a hybrid working environment that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the community while enjoying the unique advantages of working within local government.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioner - Family Support and Safeguarding City Team in Cambridge
✨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 Grafham Water Center.
✨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 Grafham Water Center!
✨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 Grafham Water Center, 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 Grafham Water Center 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 Senior Practitioner - Family Support and Safeguarding City Team in Cambridge
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 Grafham Water Center:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Grafham Water Center! 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 Grafham Water Center
✨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.
