Qualified Childrens Senior Practitioners

Qualified Children's Senior Practitioner
Hours: 37 and Part time 18.5 hours
Whilst you will have a base, each team has a geographic area they cover which will require regular access to a vehicle in order to travel to meetings.
Contract Type: Permanent and Fixed Term
Childrens Services
All roles are full time and permanent unless otherwise stated below under 'about the role'
At Hertfordshire County Council, we believe that the children and young people in our care deserve the best. You will be working at the forefront of best practice to deliver first class support to vulnerable children and families which will expose you to managing complex and diverse caseloads.
By changing our approach to families, they are changing their approach to us and we are managing to keep far more children at home safely with their families.
With dedicated Diversity & Inclusion strategy and focus groups, we promote diversity and inclusion across the delivery of services and within our workforce.
We will offer a stimulating working environment, regular supervision meetings and training opportunities to help you to reach your full potential with the assistance and guidance of our specialist L&D teams.
The pandemic has brought about changes in the way we work and having learnt from this and from feedback from our staff and communities, we are embedding important principles around ‘Our Way Forward’. The overarching vision for Children’s Services is that we work in a ‘flexible and balanced’ way with a focus on ‘continuous improvement’; this is underpinned by a ‘mix and blend’ approach by adopting hybrid ways of working, balancing the need for collaborative workspaces with the right technology for staff to work from home and touchdown areas where this is right for you and for our families.
a Team Manager, Consultant Social Worker(s), Senior Practitioners, Social Workers, Children's Practitioners and Family Practitioners.
We are looking for experienced Senior Practitioners to join one of the following teams:
~0-25 Childrens Disability Service (East)
~ Adoption Family Finding Team - Part Time 18.5 hours
~ Family Safeguarding (East - Perm or FTC to Dec 2026)
~ Joint Police Team (Hatfield) - 6 Mth Fixed Term
~ As a Senior Practitioner, you will already have highly developed specialist knowledge of Social Work practice. Your advanced expertise and knowledge will help you to take the lead on complex cases within the department.
You will have a key role in researching and sharing up to date social work practice alongside creating a clear vision for the future and ensuring the best outcomes for children and their families are realised.
It is essential that all Senior Practitioners who apply have the following:
Knowledge of legislation, guidance, policy, and procedures
Proficient in the use of Microsoft IT package
Full UK Driving Licence
0-25 Disability Service:
Ability to complete robust assessments & to assess risk.
Knowledge/experience of working with Disabled Children and Young People
Knowledge of legislation, guidance, policy, and procedure specific to Disabled Children and Young People
Experience of / ability to provide support to prospective providers and children.
~ Significant experience in assessing children’s needs and undertaking statutory Child Protection enquiries.

Recent experience of case work in Assessments, Child Protection, Children Looked After and Care Proceedings
Experience of group work and the delivery of training.
Understanding the Children Act 1989, the regulations and guidance, relevant current policies and procedures and knowledge of the National Minimum Standards and Fostering Services Regulations (2002).
Ability to be child-centred in planning for children & young people.
Able and willing to travel outside of the county when required.
It is expected that you will be on duty rota which may require you to work beyond 5.30pm. On duty days you are required to be in the office.
You will be attending CP and SARC medicals with the health team and pre-assessments with the JCPIT police colleagues.
Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural diversity, working effectively with families from different backgrounds.
Ability to handle urgent and often difficult situations while maintaining a calm and impartial demeanour.
In depth knowledge of child development and adolescence, social, emotional and mental health needs.
Demonstrable awareness of risk factors associated with offending, exploitation, poverty and disadvantage.
Experience of managing high risk and complex young people.
This job role is within the Health and Social Care, level 11 job profile. We review all applications on a regular basis with interviews arranged on an ad hoc basis - please check your emails for updates.
Additional Benefits for Social Work roles include:
~ Lease Car Scheme
~ Up to £6k relocation expenses (terms & conditions apply)
~ Hybrid working model
~5 Days additional annual leave entitlement
~ SWE Registration Fee paid

Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. If you work for HCC or any other Local Authority and would like to be considered as a Secondment contract, please ensure you complete the Secondment Form as part of your application. If you do not, your application will be considered as a Fixed Term Contract only.
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.