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- Tasks: Lead complex child protection cases and mentor fellow practitioners to enhance their skills.
- Company: Join an Outstanding local authority recognised for exceptional children's services.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your social work career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in child protection and safeguarding.
- Other info: Access excellent career development opportunities and relocation assistance.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
Embark on the next step of your Social Work career with a transformative role in Child Protection. As part of a network of Lead Practitioners, you’ll be guided by strategic leadership and united by a shared commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and families across Hampshire.
We’re proud to be part of a select group of local authorities recognised by Ofsted as Outstanding for the quality and impact of our children’s services. This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your professional practice, mentor and collaborate with colleagues, and actively shape a culture of learning and continuous development.
What you’ll do:
- Take charge of a diverse caseload of complex child protection cases, ensuring families receive the right interventions and support.
- Offer expert guidance and mentorship to colleagues, enhancing their professional growth and boosting team effectiveness.
- Confidently chair meetings and engage with a wide range of stakeholders to advocate for the needs of children and families.
- Collaborate with external partners, including various agencies and stakeholders, to provide comprehensive support for families.
- Champion reflective practice and contribute to service development and innovation.
What we’re looking for:
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England (SWE).
- Significant experience working with children and families in a UK-based statutory social work setting, with a strong focus on child protection and safeguarding.
- Proven ability to manage complex child protection cases and deliver effective interventions.
- Proven experience in mentoring and supporting less experienced practitioners whilst role modelling best practice.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and in-depth knowledge of the legal frameworks and professional issues underpinning child protection and social work practice.
- Highly skilled in building trust and engaging with families. Able to listen, negotiate, and engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Why join us?
- Outstanding support: Regular, reflective supervision and a culture that values your voice.
- Flexible working: Including a 9-day fortnight and hybrid options to support work-life balance.
- Career development: 5 personal development days per year and access to excellent learning opportunities through our DfE ‘Partner in Practice’ initiative.
- Back-office support: Dedicated business support team to free up your time for frontline work.
- Relocation assistance: Up to £8,500 available for experienced UK-based Social Workers relocating to Hampshire (subject to management approval).
- Wellbeing support: Access to Health Assured\’s comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
- Competitive benefits package: Generous annual leave, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Ready to take the next step?
To learn more about this role, please review our Candidate Pack available on our website. Please click on the Apply button for details.
Important:
You must already have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Other job titles you may be searching for may include: Advanced Social Work Practitioner, Senior Child Protection Social Worker, Senior Safeguarding Social Worker, Lead Social Worker – Child Protection, Senior Children’s Services Practitioner, Senior Family Support Social Worker.
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Child Protection Lead Practitioner employer: Hampshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Hampshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Child Protection Lead Practitioner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Connect with other social workers and professionals in child protection on platforms like LinkedIn. Join relevant groups and engage in discussions to get your name out there and learn about potential job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to child protection. Think about your experiences and how they align with the role. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or colleagues to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring along case studies or examples of your work to interviews. This will demonstrate your ability to manage complex cases and highlight your mentoring skills, making you stand out as a candidate.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our fantastic support system for new hires.
We think you need these skills to ace Child Protection Lead Practitioner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in child protection and safeguarding. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Mentorship Skills: Since mentoring is a key part of this role, share specific examples of how you've supported less experienced practitioners. We love to see how you’ve helped others grow and develop in their careers.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to explain your experiences and qualifications. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read!
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 can find more details about the role and our fantastic team there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hampshire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of child protection laws and frameworks. Familiarise yourself with the latest practices in safeguarding and be ready to discuss how you've applied these in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
Since mentoring is a key part of this role, prepare examples of how you've supported less experienced colleagues. Think about specific situations where your guidance made a difference and be ready to share those stories.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Be prepared to talk about your experience working with various stakeholders. Highlight instances where you've successfully collaborated with external partners or chaired meetings, showcasing your ability to advocate for children and families.
✨Reflective Practice Matters
Demonstrate your commitment to reflective practice by discussing how you've used feedback to improve your work. Share examples of how you've contributed to service development and innovation in your previous roles.
