About the Role
Are you an experienced Social Worker looking for the next step in your career? Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking a skilled Senior Practitioner to join its Family Support & Safeguarding Team, providing leadership on complex cases and supporting the professional development of colleagues. The Family Support & Safeguarding Team works with children and young people up to the age of 18 across a varied caseload including:
- Child in Need
- Child Protection
- Public Law Outline (PLO)
- Care Proceedings
Using a Motivational Interviewing approach, you will work in partnership with children and families to create lasting change and achieve the best possible outcomes.
Location: Fawcett House, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 9NL
Salary: £46,956 - £50,157 per annum (dependent on court and complex case experience)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week
Office Requirements: This is a hybrid role, with 3-4 days per week office-based and the remainder working from home.
Excellent Retention Payments Available;
- £1,174 after 1 year
- £3,522 after 2 years
- £4,696 after 3 years
- £1,500 annually from year 4 onwards
Relocation Package Available
Sponsorship Transfer/Swap Available
The office base is Fawcett House however, please note that as part of the Council's ongoing Asset Review, this 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.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a complex caseload involving high levels of risk and safeguarding concerns.
- Lead on court work, assessments, and care planning.
- Produce high-quality reports and evidence for court proceedings.
- Provide leadership, mentoring, and supervision to Social Workers and Child Practitioners.
- Support case allocation, workload management, recruitment, and induction.
- Deputise for the Team Manager when required.
- Champion best practice and support service improvement initiatives.
About You
- Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
- Significant experience in safeguarding children and families.
- Strong background in complex case management, child protection investigations, court work, and risk assessment.
- Experience supporting, coaching, mentoring, or supervising less experienced practitioners.
- Excellent assessment, communication, analytical, and report-writing skills.
- Full UK driving licence and ability to travel across the county.
If you're passionate about safeguarding children, confident working with complex cases, and ready to take on a leadership role within a supportive and ambitious local authority, we'd love to hear from you.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. A DBS check may be applicable for this role, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.
