Childrens Services Advanced Practitioner

We are a dedicated team of experienced social workers working together to make decisions at the front door and determine the right level of support required for a child or family when concerns arise about their safety or well‑being. We work closely with our Social Care and Early Help colleagues and partner agencies screening contacts about children and young people as well as holding consultations to advise and guide partner agencies about the right support required for an individual child and their family.

As such, this is a non‑case holding role.

We believe that supporting emotional resilience is always important, but particularly so when you are working with families experiencing complex and challenging circumstances. We will provide you with strong peer support, regular formal and informal supervision, group learning and team meetings. You will be further supported in your work through our excellent internal and external training learning offer including complimentary access to the Research in Practice, access to emotional wellbeing support/counselling.

This is an exciting opportunity to have real input into the efficient and effective delivery of social care in a nationally leading local authority. Our Children’s Services is rated by Ofsted as Outstanding. This is an incredible achievement and something we are extremely proud of as it reflects the quality of social work practice at the Social Care Front Door.

To apply, you will have:

• A recognised social work qualification and Social Work England registration.
• Significant social work experience and an in‑depth knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Knowledge of Social Care Intervention thresholds.
• A firm belief in the importance of social work values and practice.
• A strengths based and creative and innovative approach to problem solving.
• An excellent communicator who builds strong working relationships with colleagues, families and external agencies.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Above all, to want to achieve the best possible result for each and every child.

Lincolnshire County Council, is one of the largest employers in the county. We are an organisation that embraces diversity, innovation and progress. We value our people and want to ensure that we can support you in joining and growing with us.

We will view you as an integral member of our community and recognise that your well‑being is paramount. To show our appreciation, we’ve crafted a competitive package designed to not only acknowledge your hard work but also foster a healthy work‑life balance.

From health benefits and retirement plans, we strive to provide a package that supports well‑being and financial stability and that meets the diverse needs of our workforce.

Work independently to hold and effectively manage the team's most complex caseload. This will include the most high‑risk, high‑need, looked‑after children, a range of high‑profile court work and specialist assessments and interventions as required.

To undertake high quality direct work with children, young people and families, involving all key family members and prioritising children and young people's safety.

Work using Signs of Safety methodology, which works collaboratively with families to empower them to find solutions whilst ensuring working within the policies, procedures of Children’s Services and regulatory standards.

Lead on family network meetings and case mappings. Carry out in‑depth and ongoing family assessment of social need and manage risk to children, with particular focus on parental capacity and capacity to change.

Co‑work specialist assessments with less experienced members of the team to ensure that they improve and develop.

Recognise harm and risk indicators of different forms of harm to children relating to sexual, physical and emotional abuse and neglect. Consider the possibility of child sexual exploitation, grooming (online and offline), female genital mutilation, enforced marriage and the range of adult behaviours which pose a risk to children, recognising too the potential for children to be perpetrators of abuse.

Use reflective…