About the Role
Opus People Solutions are recruiting on behalf of Peterborough City Council for an experienced Advanced Practitioner to join their Children and Young People Service.
This is an excellent opportunity for a highly skilled and motivated practitioner to combine frontline statutory social work with practice leadership responsibilities. As an Advanced Practitioner, you will play a key role in supporting children, young people, and families while helping to develop the practice of Social Workers across the team.
You will work closely with Team Managers, provide professional guidance and support to colleagues, contribute to service development initiatives, and act as a Practice Educator for ASYE Social Workers. As an Advanced Practitioner, you will manage a complex caseload while demonstrating high-quality social work practice and supporting continuous improvement across the service. You will work collaboratively with children, young people, families, and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes and ensure children are safeguarded and supported effectively. You will also provide mentoring, coaching, and practice leadership to colleagues, contributing to a culture of learning, development, and excellence.
Location: Sand Martin House, Bittern Way, PE2 8TY
Rate: £42.50 per hour (Umbrella rate)
Contract: Temporary
Hours: 37 hours per week
Office Requirements: Hybrid Working - Minimum 2 days per week in the office
Key Responsibilities
- Work collaboratively and sensitively with children, young people, and their families to achieve the best possible outcomes.
- Manage a complex caseload and deliver high-quality statutory social work interventions.
- Undertake timely assessments in line with legislation, statutory guidance, organisational policies, and best practice.
- Plan, implement, and review interventions, services, and support plans to meet the needs of children and families.
- Support the Team Manager with supervision responsibilities for Social Workers and other practitioners as required.
- Act as a practice lead within the team, modelling excellent social work practice and professional standards.
- Provide mentoring, coaching, and guidance to less experienced practitioners.
- Act as a Practice Educator and support Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Social Workers.
- Lead and contribute to service improvement, project work, and development initiatives.
- Develop and maintain effective multi-agency partnerships to ensure coordinated support for children and families.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case recordings, assessments, and reports.
- Participate fully in supervision, training, and annual Personal Development Reviews.
- Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of practice.
- Comply with safeguarding, data protection, and health and safety requirements.
About You
- Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
- DfE ASYE completed with at least 3 years' permanent experience as a statutory Children's Social Worker.
- Strong experience of undertaking assessments, care planning, risk assessment, and statutory intervention.
- Experience managing complex Child in Need, Child Protection, Children in Care, and court-related work.
- Previous experience mentoring, coaching, supervising, or supporting Social Workers and ASYE practitioners.
- Ability to provide practice leadership and promote high standards of social work practice.
- Excellent communication, analytical, and report-writing skills.
- Strong understanding of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and safeguarding frameworks.
- Ability to build effective relationships with children, families, colleagues, and partner agencies.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
If you are an experienced Social Worker looking to progress into an Advanced Practitioner role where you can combine expert casework with practice leadership, 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.
