Advanced Practitioner (Childrens) (Grade 9) in Shepton Mallet

Job title: Advanced Practitioner (Childrens) (Grade 9)

Job Category: Social Care Qualified

Location: Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5BT, Somerset Council

Salary: £30.67 per hour

Social Work England Registration, Driving Licence and DBS Required

3 days in office - must be flexible with days to suit case load

Role Purpose:

The Advanced Practitioner is a senior social work role within Somerset Council's Children’s Social Care, providing specialist expertise to safeguard children and young people at risk of harm. The postholder undertakes advanced assessments, manages a caseload of highly complex cases, and delivers evidence-based interventions that reduce risk, promote resilience, and improve outcomes for children, young people and their families. Through the application of professional knowledge, reflective practice and informed decision‑making, the role helps ensure that children receive timely, effective and child‑centred support. The postholder provides professional leadership and oversight within the service, offering consultation, advice and guidance to colleagues across Children's Services. Working collaboratively within a multi‑agency environment, the Advanced Practitioner builds effective partnerships with agencies including Police, Health and Education to co‑ordinate responses to safeguard children, influence practice and promote positive outcomes. The role supports service development, contributes to continuous improvement initiatives, and deputises for the Team Manager as required to ensure continuity of leadership and high‑quality service delivery. Depending on service requirements, the postholder may be deployed within a specialist area of Children’s Social Care. This may include the Preventing Exploitation Team, where the role will involve working with young people at risk of Child Exploitation through the Risk Outside the Home pathway, providing specialist consultation and advice, and supporting coordinated multi‑agency responses.

Accountabilities:

The responsibility of the Children’s Services Function is to promote and ensure the safety, well‑being and learning of children and young people. Childrens Social Care Teams provide services to “Children in Need”, children subject to Child Protection Plans, Children “Looked After” and Care Leavers. Many of these roles operate through “multi‑agency” teams. Advanced Practitioners will work in accordance with professional standards (as set by Social Work England) and will undertake all or any of the elements of the Assignment as described below:

• Act as the lead professional for the more serious/complex cases and offer high level professional and statutory advice to other Social Workers.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Undertake advanced assessments within their field identifying and providing detailed outcome focused analysis of the main issues including risk and needs in relation to service users and carers so that, within relevant legislation, appropriate action is taken, monitored and reviewed effectively. Specific responsibilities and duties relate to Permanence, Child Protection, legal work, Children Looked After, Fostering and Adoption, etc. Operate with a significant degree of professional independence and demonstrate competence through CPD and achievement of appropriate post qualification awards. Although working within a specialist field, for example Safeguarding, Assessment, Fostering, Adoption, Children Looked After or Preventing Exploitation, an Advanced Practitioner may be required to move between specialisms in response to service requirements, with appropriate support. Manage a workload within the designated function of complex and challenging cases with knowledge, skills and sensitivity or cases of sufficient risk and profile to warrant an experienced worker to work solely on it. Have an increased level of autonomy and decision making, based on experience and knowledge around the cases allocated. Will report to the relevant manager on the progress of these cases. Chair appropriate meetings to ensure the effective review of plans and make any necessary amendments to ensure the quality of care required. Will be expected to identify and specify the need for immediate and future changes to improve practice wherever necessary. Act as Practice Educator to at least one social work student on placement a year to ensure dissemination and acquisition of learning and that the students meet the required standards of practice. Able to model and facilitate reflective practice. Maintain performance and develop practice and expertise in line with personal targets as agreed through supervision and annual review. Contribute to the achievement of Key Performance Indicators identified through service planning. Work to the prescribed quality standards for service provision set out by the service for all workers and participate as required in any review of quality standards or professional practice in the postholders area of expertise.

Social Work England Registration, Driving Licence and DBS Required