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- Tasks: Lead complex cases and support vulnerable children and families in a dynamic team environment.
- Company: Join Hertfordshire County Council, dedicated to providing top-notch care for children and young people.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, welcome payment, lease car scheme, and additional annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while working in an inclusive and supportive culture.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified Social Worker with at least 2 years of post-qualification experience.
- Other info: Open to secondments; we guarantee interviews for applicants with disabilities meeting criteria.
The predicted salary is between 41511 - 45718 £ per year.
Job Number HCC26072 Location Hertfordshire Directorate Childrens Services Salary Range £41,511 pa progressing to £45,718 pa Contract Type Permanent Full Time/Part Time Full Time
Job Title: Qualified Children\’s Senior Practitioner
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.
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services
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.
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Qualified Childrens Senior Practitioners - Family Safeguarding 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 - Family Safeguarding
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific needs and challenges faced by the Family Safeguarding team. Understanding the nuances of safeguarding practices and recent legislation will help you demonstrate your expertise during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees in similar roles. They can provide valuable insights into the team dynamics and expectations, which can be beneficial when preparing for interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on current trends and best practices in social work, particularly in safeguarding. Being able to discuss recent developments will show your commitment to professional growth and your readiness for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with complex cases and how you've led less experienced staff. Highlighting your leadership skills and ability to manage challenging situations will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Qualified Childrens Senior Practitioners - Family Safeguarding
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to the role of Qualified Children's Senior Practitioner. Highlight your relevant experience, particularly in safeguarding and case work, and ensure you include any specific qualifications or training that align with the job description.
Showcase Relevant Experience: In your application, provide clear examples of your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to manage complex cases and lead less experienced staff. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for this role, make sure to emphasise these in your application. You could mention specific instances where your communication skills made a positive impact on your work or team.
Include Additional Documentation: If applicable, include any additional documents such as a Secondment Form if you're applying for a secondment. Ensure all documents are well-organised and clearly labelled to facilitate the review process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hertfordshire County Council
✨Showcase Your Experience
Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in safeguarding and social work during the interview. Prepare specific examples of complex cases you've managed, as this will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of a Senior Practitioner.
✨Know the Legislation
Familiarise yourself with current childcare legislation and policies relevant to the role. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you are well-prepared and knowledgeable about the legal framework within which you will be working.
✨Demonstrate Communication Skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for this role. Be prepared to discuss how you have effectively communicated with colleagues, families, and other stakeholders in past roles, and consider bringing examples of reports or assessments you've completed.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the team dynamics, support structures, and training opportunities available. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the organisation aligns with your career goals.
