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- Tasks: Lead complex cases and support vulnerable children and families in a dynamic team environment.
- Company: Hertfordshire County Council, dedicated to innovative social work practices.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, welcome payment, additional leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your social work career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with at least 2 years of post-qualification experience.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 41000 - 46000 £ per year.
Job Number: HCC26072
Location: Hertfordshire
Directorate: Children's Services
Salary Range: £41,511 pa progressing to £45,718 pa
Contract Type: Permanent
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Starting Salary: £41,511 per annum + £6,243 pa market enhanced payment progressing to £45,718 per annum + £6,084 pa market enhanced payment PLUS £1k one off welcome payment*
Hours: 37
Location: Base locations in Stevenage and Apsley. Each team has a geographic area they cover which will require regular access to a vehicle for travel to meetings.
About the service:
At Hertfordshire County Council, we believe that the children and young people in our care deserve the best. This means ensuring the social workers who work alongside them are trained, supported, and highly motivated. As an innovative authority, we are committed to developing motivational social work practice. You will work at the forefront of best practice to deliver first-class support to vulnerable children and families, managing complex and diverse caseloads. By changing our approach to families, we are managing to keep more children at home safely with their families. With a dedicated Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we promote diversity and inclusion across our services and workforce. We will offer a stimulating working environment, regular supervision meetings, and training opportunities to help you reach your full potential with the assistance of our specialist L&D teams.
About the role:
Each Team consists of a Team Manager, Consultant Social Worker(s), Senior Practitioners, Social Workers, Children's Practitioners, and Family Practitioners. We are looking for experienced Senior Practitioners to join one of the following teams:
- Family Safeguarding
- 0-25 Disability Service
- Assessment (1 year secondment/FTC)
- Specialist Adolescent Service Hertfordshire (SASH)
As a Senior Practitioner, you will have highly developed specialist knowledge of Social Work practice. Your advanced expertise will help you lead on complex cases within the department. This is a varied and challenging role where you will share responsibility for leading less experienced staff and play a key role in researching and sharing up-to-date social work practice.
About you:
It is essential that all Senior Practitioners who apply have the following:
- Qualified and Social Work England Registered
- At least 2 years post ASYE experience
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge of legislation, guidance, policy, and procedures
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft IT packages
- Full UK Driving Licence
- Regular access to a vehicle
In addition, below outlines team-specific essential criteria:
- Family Safeguarding: Significant senior level frontline experience in a safeguarding team. Recent experience of case work in Assessments, Child Protection, Children Looked After, and Care Proceedings. In-depth knowledge of relevant childcare legislation.
- 0-25 Disability Service: Ability to complete robust assessments & assess risk. Ability to work in a relationship-based way. Experience of care planning, assessments, and reviews. Track record of working alongside challenging families.
- Assessment: Significant experience in assessing children's needs and undertaking statutory Child Protection enquiries.
- SASH: In-depth knowledge of child development and adolescence, social, emotional, behavioural, and mental health needs. Demonstrable awareness of risk factors associated with offending, mental health, neurodiversity, exploitation, poverty, and social disadvantage. Experience of managing high-risk child protection, children in need, and complex children. Experience in court work and detailed report writing. Experience in managing a high and complex workload. Experience in supervising is desirable.
This job role is within the Health and Social Care, level 11 job profile.
Recruitment timeline: We review all applications regularly with interviews arranged on an ad hoc basis - please check your emails for updates.
Additional Benefits for Social Work roles include:
- Monthly Market Enhanced Payment
- One off £1k Welcome Payment* (terms & conditions apply)
- Lease Car Scheme
- Up to £6 relocation expenses
- 5 Days additional annual leave entitlement
- SWE Registration Fee paid
How to apply: As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps) and includes any training/qualifications. Include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert/job profile to allow the panel to fully recognize your skills and abilities.
Secondment: This position is open to secondments. If you work for HCC or any other Local Authority and wish to be considered for a Secondment contract, please complete the Secondment Form as part of your application. If you do not, your application will be considered as a Fixed Term Contract only.
Additional information:
- Disability Confident: We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
- Safeguarding: This role requires a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Driving required: You'll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car.
- English Fluency: The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for this post.
Qualified Childrens Senior Practitioners - Joint Police Team in London employer: Hertfordshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Hertfordshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Qualified Childrens Senior Practitioners - Joint Police Team in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who might know about openings in the Joint Police Team. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren't even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of current legislation and best practices in social work. We want you to shine when discussing your experience and how it aligns with the role of a Senior Practitioner.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! During interviews, be ready to share specific examples of your past work, especially those that highlight your ability to manage complex cases and support vulnerable children and families.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Qualified Childrens Senior Practitioners - Joint Police Team in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience and skills that match the job description. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of a Senior Practitioner, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong written communication is key for this role, ensure your application reflects that. Use clear, concise language and structure your application well. We’re looking for clarity and professionalism in your writing!
Highlight Relevant Experience: When filling out your application, be specific about your experience in safeguarding, assessments, and working with challenging families. We want to see concrete examples that demonstrate your expertise and how you’ve made an impact in previous roles.
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, it makes it easier for us to keep track of your submission and get back to you with updates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hertfordshire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of relevant childcare legislation and social work practices. Be ready to discuss your experience in safeguarding, assessments, and working with challenging families. This will show that you're not just qualified, but also passionate about the role.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Senior Practitioner, strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with colleagues, families, and other professionals. Practising your responses can help you articulate your thoughts clearly during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Highlight your experience in leading less experienced staff or managing complex cases. Think of specific instances where you've taken charge or mentored others, as this will illustrate your capability to lead within the team.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Prepare by thinking through potential challenges you might encounter in the role and how you would handle them, especially in high-risk situations.
