Professional Practitioner

Professional Practitioner - Fostering Intervention Team (FIT)

Locations:
Shepton Mallet, Bridgwater, Taunton or Yeovil

Contract:

Initially 3 months

Hours:

37 hours per week
Rate: £38 per hour (Umbrella) (£27 PAYE an hour)

Somerset Council is seeking an experienced and dynamic Professional Practitioner to join our Fostering Intervention Team (FIT) on an initial 3-month contract. This is a key role supporting children living in fostering and kinship arrangements, with a strong focus on placement stability, prevention of breakdown, and strengthening carers' capacity to care.

About the Role The Fostering Intervention Team works intensively with children, foster carers and kinship carers to prevent escalation to statutory intervention and to improve outcomes for children. As a Professional Practitioner, you will provide day-to-day oversight, guidance and professional support to workers within the team, ensuring that interventions are timely, purposeful and child-centred.

You will use your strong assessment, planning and intervention skills to support families with complex needs, reduce risk, manage crises, and work collaboratively with multi‑agency partners. This is a fast-paced role requiring someone who can hit the ground running and confidently engage families and professionals from day one.

• Manage and supervise practitioners within the Fostering Intervention Team
• Lead high‑quality assessment, planning and intervention in a whole‑family context
• Support foster and kinship carers to maintain placements and manage challenges
• Reduce risk and prevent escalation to statutory children's social care
• Work collaboratively with multi‑agency partners with informed consent
• Ensure safeguarding and risk management in line with policy and procedure
• Maintain accurate and timely case recording using ICT systems

• Proven experience working with families, foster carers and/or kinship carers in a multi‑agency context
• Experience supporting children and young people, including those with challenging behaviour and in crisis situations
• Experience contributing to the planning, delivery and review of services for families/carers
• Strong skills in risk management and safeguarding practice
• Experience using ICT systems for case recording
• Experience supporting carers using trauma‑informed and therapeutic parenting approaches
• Background in youth work, education, residential care or a related field
• Experience contributing to multi‑agency meetings (e.g. Team Around the School)

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs (A‑C) or Level 3 equivalent
• Relevant qualification in working with parents (e.g. City & Guilds Work with Parents Level 3 or equivalent)
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Training or experience in mediation
• Safeguarding / child protection training
• Relevant Level 4 qualification

Somerset Council offers a supportive, experienced and forward‑thinking working environment, where children's needs are kept firmly at the centre of practice. You'll be part of a large, dynamic team making a real difference to the lives of children and carers across the county.