At a Glance
- Tasks: Support care leavers and guide Personal Advisers to improve outcomes for young adults.
- Company: Peterborough City Council, dedicated to supporting young people in care.
- Benefits: Generous leave, flexible bank holidays, discounts, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of care-experienced young people.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in leaving care and complex case management.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Practitioner to join Peterborough City Council's Leaving Care Service.
Working within Corporate Parenting, you will hold a caseload of care leavers while providing senior practice support across a service of three teams.
You will use your expertise in leaving care, transitions to adulthood and statutory responsibilities to support young people, Personal Advisers and colleagues, helping improve outcomes for care-experienced young adults.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a complex caseload of care leavers and young people transitioning from care.
- Provide practice guidance, mentoring and support to Personal Advisers.
- Support quality assurance, performance monitoring and service improvement.
- Advise on complex issues including safeguarding, housing, mental health, exploitation, homelessness and transition planning.
- Promote effective pathway planning and the Local Offer for care leavers.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external partners.
- Contribute to training, development and continuous improvement across the service.
- About the Service
Peterborough's Corporate Parenting Service supports children in care, young people preparing to leave care and care leavers moving into adulthood.
We are committed to helping young people achieve positive outcomes in independence, education, employment, relationships and accommodation through relational, strengths-based and child-centred practice.
About You
You will be a qualified Social Worker, with significant experience supporting children in care and care leavers.
You will have strong knowledge of leaving care legislation, safeguarding, pathway planning and multi‑agency working.
We are looking for someone who
- Has experience managing complex cases and supporting colleagues.
- Demonstrates strong assessment, analysis and communication skills.
- Can provide reflective challenge and practice leadership.
- Is committed to improving outcomes for care-experienced young people.
- Brings resilience, emotional intelligence and a solution-focused approach.
Key Knowledge Areas A sound understanding of relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989, Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Children and Social Work Act 2017, safeguarding guidance, housing legislation and corporate parenting responsibilities is essential.
Our Benefits
We value our colleagues and have developed a number of benefits in addition to our generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays, sick pay and local government pension scheme…
- Access to a range of benefits via our Employee Benefits Platform, including in-store and online discounts as well as our Cycle to Work and Home & Electronics schemes
- Buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro-rat)
- Access to car lease scheme
- Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
- Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
- Access to development opportunities including apprenticeships to support your personal and professional growth
- Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
- Access to our equality, diversity and inclusion network
- Opportunities to receive Employee Recognition Awards
- Our Commitments
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone.
We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities.
Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success.
We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible.
If you are a person who has or considers yourself to have a disability and you require reasonable adjustments to the application or interview process, please contact pccrecruitment@peterborough. gov. uk.
Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you've already applied and completed the recruitment process for this position within the last three months, there's no need to reapply.
- We really appreciate your interest and thank you for considering us
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Practitioner - Leaving Care in Peterborough employer: Peterborough First group
At Peterborough City Council's Transfer of Care Team, we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community while fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. Our team not only enjoys a friendly culture filled with fun and cake but also offers numerous benefits such as flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and access to an Employee Benefits Platform that enhances your work-life balance. Join us in our mission to support adult service users and experience a rewarding career where your contributions truly matter.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioner - Leaving Care in Peterborough
✨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 Peterborough First group.
✨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 Peterborough First group!
✨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 Peterborough First group, 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 Peterborough First group 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 Senior Practitioner - Leaving Care in Peterborough
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 Peterborough First group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Peterborough First group! 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 Peterborough First group
✨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.
