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- Tasks: Lead complex assessments and support families in the Adoption Assessment Team.
- Company: Join Leicestershire County Council, dedicated to improving lives in the community.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options and a competitive salary with market premia.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Must have a Social Work degree and experience in childcare social work.
- Other info: Enhanced DBS check required; commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential.
The predicted salary is between 36400 - 39800 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA
Worker Category: Fixed Location Worker
Salary: £42,498 - £46,344 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus market premia £2,250
Working Hours: 37 Hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed term / Secondment for 12 months
Closing Date: 26th June 2025
Interview Date(s): 23rd July 2025
About the Role
Are you a passionate and experienced social worker looking to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families? We are seeking a dedicated Senior Practitioner to join our Adoption Assessment and Support Team, where you will play a key role in delivering high-quality services to prospective adopters and adoptive families alongside the Team Manager.
In this pivotal role, you will lead on complex Prospective Adopter Reports, provide expert support and guidance to colleagues, and contribute to the continuous development of adoption services. You will bring your deep understanding of attachment, trauma, and permanency planning, along with strong assessment and communication skills. You will oversee stage 1 assessments of prospective adopters and supervise the support workers within the team.
Join us in creating brighter futures where your expertise and leadership will help children thrive in stable, loving homes. An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.
About You
To apply for this post, you must respond to and provide evidence of the following essential criteria within your personal statement. This should be no more than 1,000 words.
- Have a Social Work degree or equivalent, e.g. CQSW, DipSW (with specialism in children's services) and be registered with Social Work England.
- Preferably, you will have a number of years of post-qualifying experience in Childcare social work, including experience in adoption, i.e., family finding and matching through to Adoption Orders.
- Be able to complete reports such as Prospective Adopter Reports to a high standard and work within tight deadlines where needed.
- Be able to evidence your skills and knowledge of creative, innovative, and relationship-based social work, working in collaboration with families and professionals. Ideally, you will already be confident in the application of the Signs of Safety methodology.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and passion for practice and be committed to helping us build a real culture of reflection and learning.
- Commitment to trauma-informed practice.
- Have a full, valid driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- You must also have an understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability.
Interested in Flexible Working?
We are keen to support employees in balancing their working lives with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances while still meeting the needs of the Council.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Caramjit Supra - Assessment Team Manager
Telephone: 01163055160
Email: Caramjit.Supra@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
Leicestershire County Council is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our communities.
We particularly welcome applicants from Ethnically Diverse and LGBTQ+ communities and people with disabilities to create a balanced workforce and one that reflects the communities we serve. Applicants with a disability who meet the criteria listed in the 'About You' section above will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme.
To apply for this job, please click on the apply button. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the 'About You' section above.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Senior Social Work Practitioner- Adoption Team (Maternity Cover) employer: Leicestershire County Council
Contact Detail:
Leicestershire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Work Practitioner- Adoption Team (Maternity Cover)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Signs of Safety methodology, as it's a key aspect of the role. Consider attending workshops or online courses to deepen your understanding and demonstrate your commitment to this approach during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees in similar roles to gain insights into the team dynamics and expectations. This can help you tailor your responses in the interview and show that you understand the specific challenges faced by the Adoption Team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare examples from your past experience that highlight your skills in trauma-informed practice and relationship-based social work. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with families and professionals in complex situations.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Leicestershire County Council's values and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Be prepared to share how your personal values align with theirs and provide examples of how you've promoted these principles in your previous roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Social Work Practitioner- Adoption Team (Maternity Cover)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the key responsibilities and requirements. Highlight your relevant experience in social work, particularly in adoption, to align with what Leicestershire County Council is looking for.
Craft a Strong Personal Statement: Your personal statement should be no more than 1,000 words and must directly address the essential criteria listed in the job description. Use specific examples from your experience to demonstrate how you meet each criterion.
Showcase Your Skills: Emphasise your skills in completing reports, working under tight deadlines, and your knowledge of trauma-informed practice. Mention any experience with the Signs of Safety methodology, as this is particularly relevant to the role.
Highlight Your Commitment to Diversity: Leicestershire County Council values diversity and inclusion. Make sure to express your commitment to these principles in your application, providing examples of how you've promoted equality and inclusion in your previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Leicestershire County Council
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be prepared to discuss your post-qualifying experience in childcare social work, particularly in adoption. Highlight specific cases where you've successfully completed Prospective Adopter Reports or worked closely with families to demonstrate your expertise.
✨Understand the Role's Requirements
Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities of the Senior Social Work Practitioner role. Be ready to explain how your skills in trauma-informed practice and the Signs of Safety methodology align with the expectations of the position.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion
Express your enthusiasm for making a difference in the lives of children and families. Share personal anecdotes or experiences that illustrate your commitment to reflective practice and continuous learning in social work.
✨Prepare Questions
Have thoughtful questions ready for the interviewers about the team dynamics, support structures, and the council's approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the organisation.
