Senior Practitioner - Placement Finding Team Mid Essex
Permanent, Full Time
£45,217 to £54,395 Per Annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Fixed-base worker
Closing Date: 18th March 2025
Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.
The Role
We are looking to recruit a full-time Senior Practitioner post in the Placement Finding Team with experience of CLA (Child Looked After). The role supports the operational responsibilities of a duty service and oversees duty on a rota basis.
* Experience of providing supervision to alternatively qualified staff.
* Support assigned Quadrant networking.
* Good relationship working with fostering and other teams to ensure good communication and development of the Placement Finding function.
* Lead assigned work stream areas.
The Opportunity
The Children & Young People’s Service’s (CYPPS) role is to support The Placement Finding Team’s operational responsibility to provide an effective response to referral requests and ensure appropriate placements are made. Placements that are sourced include:
* In-house foster placements - which include short breaks and respite.
* In-house Supported Lodging Carers.
* External placements [IFA/Residential] and Semi-Independent Accommodation Placements (SIA).
* No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) accommodation - post 18 and families.
* Welfare Secure Accommodation.
As a Senior Practitioner, you will be required to be part of the senior duty requirements for the team, working both in the office and from home on a rota basis. You will oversee duty, manage day-to-day functions for the team, including overseeing incoming placement requests, allocating referrals to Placement Officers, and ensuring quality and assurance of the referral request.
You will provide supervision to Placement Officers to support their allocated work and development/training needs. You will also have assigned links with one of the four quadrants to build relationships with the fostering and other teams to ensure good communication and implementation of developments identified for Fostering. As part of these developments, you will lead work streams/projects to ensure continued review and development of CLA placements.
Driving Licence and use of a car for travel to other local offices across Essex is required as part of post requirements.
The role requires an experienced social work practitioner, who is able:
* To manage higher levels of risk, mentor and advise staff, manage performance, and deliver improvements.
* Build strong working relationships with key partners and stakeholders; a sound knowledge of the CIC processes is essential.
* Be linked to a quadrant to promote relationships with the respective child care and fostering teams, promote the in-house fostering business plan, and engage with in-house carers through various mediums.
* Take the lead in assigned work to ensure continued review and development of the service, with a sound knowledge of the LAC process.
* Provide expert advice and professional supervision for Placement Officers and contribute to the development of practice standards.
* Be accountable for assessing complex social care needs and developing support for vulnerable people, children, and families as part of the placement finding process.
* Maintain accurate and timely data, reports, and presentations as required.
The Experience You Will Bring
* A recognised social work qualification (Diploma, degree or Masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent), with current Social Work England (SWE) registration.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Extensive CLA experience.
* IT/Word Processing Skills.
* Recent practice at an experienced social worker level, supported by comprehensive working knowledge and experience within Children Services.
* Preferably experience in Child Protection work including section 47 investigations and assessments since the implementation of the Children’s Act 1989.
* Considerable, recent experience of communicating with children of all ages and working in partnership with parents and/or carers.
* Experience in planning activities and programs for children, young people, and parents.
* Experience of Court work in relation to Child Care matters and an understanding of the legal process.
* Detailed knowledge of current legislation pertinent to Children in Care Guidance and Regulations.
* Knowledge and understanding of child development, relating theory and practice.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area, including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings, and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC), should your role require a DBS check, you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service, please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events, and industry-related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.
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