Job Title: Senior Practitioner - Looked After Children Team
Location: Shropshire
Rate of Pay: £33.30 per hour
Are you an experienced and highly skilled Social Worker ready to lead practice and drive positive change for children in care? Shropshire Council is seeking a dedicated Senior Practitioner to join our committed Looked After Children (LAC) Team!
At Shropshire Council, we're unwavering in our commitment to providing the best possible care, stability, and opportunities for our looked after children. Our LAC Team works tirelessly to ensure children thrive in loving homes and achieve permanence, whether through adoption, Special Guardianship, or long-term fostering.
The Opportunity
As a Senior Practitioner in the LAC Team, you'll manage a complex and diverse caseload of looked after children, utilizing your advanced skills to achieve exceptional outcomes. Beyond your direct caseload, you'll play a crucial role in mentoring and guiding less experienced colleagues, championing best practice, and contributing to service development. Your responsibilities will include:
Managing a complex caseload of looked after children and young people, from entry into care through to achieving permanence.
Leading on complex case management, including preparing for and attending court, ensuring robust care plans, and progressing permanency pathways.
Providing expert advice and reflective supervision to Social Workers, newly qualified staff, and students, fostering their professional growth and development.
Driving high-quality practice by demonstrating exemplary assessment, planning, and intervention skills in line with statutory guidance and local policies.
Building strong, empowering relationships with children, young people, their families, foster carers, and a wide range of multi-agency partners.
Championing the voice of the child, ensuring their wishes, feelings, and lived experiences are central to all decision-making.
Contributing to service improvement initiatives, identifying areas for development and sharing best practice across the team and wider service.
Maintaining meticulous and analytical records, ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements.
About You
We're looking for a highly motivated, skilled, and compassionate Senior Practitioner who possesses:
A recognised Social Work qualification.
Current registration with Social Work England.
Minimum 3 years post-qualifying experience in children's social care, with extensive direct experience in Looked After Children's services.
A comprehensive understanding of relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including the Children Act 1989 and guidance relating to looked after children, care planning, and permanence.
Demonstrable experience in mentoring, supporting, or supervising less experienced colleagues.
Exceptional assessment, analytical, and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare robust court statements and care plans.
The ability to manage a demanding caseload, prioritise effectively, and work autonomously.
A deep commitment to child-centred practice, safeguarding, and achieving timely permanence for children.
A full UK driving licence and access to a car for business use (or ability to travel efficiently across the county).
What We Offer
A competitive rate of £33.30 per hour.
The opportunity to work in a key leadership role within a highly dedicated and supportive LAC team.
Regular, high-quality reflective supervision and excellent opportunities for professional development and specialist training.
The chance to make a profound and lasting positive impact on the lives of children and young people in Shropshire.
Access to a range of employee benefits (details available upon request).
Why Shropshire Council?
Shropshire Council is dedicated to providing outstanding services for our children and families. We foster a supportive and ambitious culture where our social workers are valued, invested in, and empowered to deliver the best possible care. Join us in our commitment to safeguarding and nurturing our looked after children, and take the next step in your social work career.
Apply Now:
If you are a passionate and experienced Social Worker ready to take on this rewarding Senior Practitioner role, we would love to hear from you!
For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Fahmida Ahmed on 07441 927663 or .
Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.
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