Senior Practitioner Family Support And Safeguarding

Children, Education & Families Services | Cambridgeshire County Council

Pay Rate: £46,956 - £50,157 plus a retention payment scheme

Location:

Cambridgeshire | Full-Time | Permanent

The role is hybrid with a mix of home and office working (3-4 days in the office). The office base is Fawcett House in Trumpington, Cambridge. However, please note that as part of the Council's ongoing Asset Review, the Fawcett House office base may change during 2026. Teams currently located at Fawcett House may be relocated to an alternative site within the County, which in most cases will be in close proximity to the current location.

Relocation package available Sponsorship swap available

Help Shape Better Futures for Children and Families

At Cambridgeshire County Council, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. Our Children's Services are built around supporting children, young people and families to achieve positive and lasting outcomes through high-quality, relationship-based social work practice.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Practitioner to join our Children, Education and Families Service. This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished Social Worker who is passionate about safeguarding, committed to excellence, and ready to take on a key leadership role within a supportive and forward-thinking local authority.

As a Senior Practitioner, you will manage a complex caseload while providing professional leadership, mentoring and practice support to colleagues. You will play a vital role in promoting best practice, driving performance and ensuring children and families receive the highest standard of service.

Working within Cambridgeshire's legislative and procedural framework, you will hold responsibility for complex assessments, intervention planning and safeguarding activity involving children, young people and families with significant and often challenging needs.

You will act as a role model for outstanding social work practice, supporting colleagues through coaching, mentoring and supervision while helping to embed a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.

You will also contribute to service development, support workforce growth and deputise for Team Managers when required.

• Manage a highly complex caseload involving safeguarding, child protection, court proceedings and statutory intervention.
• Provide professional leadership and specialist advice on complex cases and risk management.
• Support and develop Social Workers and Child Practitioners through mentoring, coaching and practice education.
• Act as a Practice Lead within the team and contribute to workforce development and induction.
• Deputise for the Team Manager where required.

• Lead on complex assessments, investigations and safeguarding interventions.
• Analyse risk and protective factors to ensure effective decision-making and planning.
• Promote a culture of professional curiosity, safety and accountability.
• Support practitioners in managing risk and achieving positive outcomes for children and families.

• Build effective relationships with children, families and carers.
• Work collaboratively with schools, health services, police, legal representatives and partner agencies.
• Chair and contribute to professional meetings, reviews and multi‑agency forums.
• Represent the service in court and provide high‑quality written and verbal evidence.

• Ensure work is completed within statutory timescales and service standards.
• Maintain accurate case recording and management oversight.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives and performance objectives.
• Support…