At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families to promote safety, resilience, and well-being.
- Company: Lancashire County Council, dedicated to positive change in children's services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong training pathways, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team that values learning and professional autonomy.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in social work or related fields and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 28142 - 32061 £ per year.
Salary £28,142 - £32,061 Per Annum | Permanent, Full Time 37 Hours Per Week | Fleetwood
This role is not open to international sponsorship.
A Child and Family Practitioner in Lancashire works directly with children and families to support positive change, safeguard welfare, and assist social workers in delivering specialist services.
Overview
Child and Family Practitioners in Lancashire County Council’s Children’s Services are responsible for working directly with children, young people, and their families to achieve positive outcomes, particularly for those open to child protection or child-in-need plans. They support social workers by undertaking identified pieces of direct work, recording sessions analytically on the child’s online records, and contributing to multi-disciplinary meetings and group supervision.
Key Responsibilities
- Direct Work with Families: Engage with children and parents to promote safety, resilience, and well-being, and support educational and developmental potential.
- Safeguarding and Risk Assessment: Identify and highlight risk factors, contribute to child protection conferences, and participate in strategy meetings.
- Collaboration: Liaise with social workers, partner agencies, and community resources to ensure comprehensive support and appropriate referrals.
- Documentation and Analysis: Maintain detailed records of interventions, analyze information, and provide recommendations to inform child plans.
Practice Approach
The role embraces relationship-based practice, strengths-based approaches, and the Family Safeguarding model, including the Contextual Safeguarding approach for young people experiencing harm outside the home. Practitioners focus on understanding the child’s experiences in schools, neighbourhoods, and online environments, recognising that parents may have limited influence over these contexts.
Qualifications and Skills
- Experience in social work or related fields
- Experience of delivering direct work to children and families
- Strong communication and analytical skills
- Commitment to child welfare, safeguarding, and anti-discriminatory practice
- Ability to work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams
What we offer
- A supportive, skilled and stable workforce
- Strong training pathways, including Family Safeguarding and motivational interviewing
- High quality reflective supervision
- Opportunities for career development within a large and ambitious council
- A culture that values learning, inclusion, and professional autonomy
You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. Join us and be part of a service that is proud of its values and committed to achieving positive change for children and families across Lancashire.
Child and Family Practitioner| Permanent| Full Time| Fleetwood employer: Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council is an exceptional employer for Child and Family Practitioners, offering a supportive and skilled workforce dedicated to fostering positive change in the lives of children and families. With strong training pathways, high-quality reflective supervision, and ample opportunities for career development, employees thrive in a culture that prioritises learning, inclusion, and professional autonomy. Join us in Fleetwood and contribute to a service that is committed to safeguarding and enhancing the welfare of our community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Child and Family Practitioner| Permanent| Full Time| Fleetwood
✨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 Lancashire County Council.
✨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 Lancashire County Council!
✨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 Lancashire County Council, 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 Lancashire County Council 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 Child and Family Practitioner| Permanent| Full Time| Fleetwood
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 Lancashire County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Lancashire County Council! 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 Lancashire County Council
✨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.
