Locum Child Protection Advanced Practitioner
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Advanced Practitioner – Children’s Services (Stoke-on-Trent City Council)
Job Overview
We are recruiting an experienced **Advanced Practitioner (Qualified Social Worker)** to join **Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Children’s Services team**. This senior practice role combines complex case management with leadership responsibilities, supporting colleagues while ensuring children and families receive effective, timely, and high-quality interventions.
As an Advanced Practitioner, you will manage high-risk safeguarding cases, provide professional mentoring and guidance, and contribute to continuous service improvement across Children’s Services.
Key Responsibilities
Lead on complex safeguarding and child protection cases in line with statutory requirements.
Provide professional guidance, mentoring, and reflective supervision to social workers and support staff.
Undertake comprehensive assessments of children and families to inform care planning and decision-making.
Develop, implement, and review child-centred care and protection plans.
Prepare and present clear, evidence-based reports for court, child protection conferences, and statutory panels.
Chair and contribute to multi-agency meetings to ensure effective partnership working.
Work directly with children, families, and carers to build strong relationships and deliver sustainable outcomes.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case records in line with legislation and council policy.
Support audits, quality assurance activity, and continuous service improvement within Children’s Services.
About You
You are a resilient and confident social worker with substantial post-qualification experience in children’s services. You can manage complex safeguarding cases while supporting colleagues to deliver high-quality, reflective practice.
Requirements
Qualified Social Worker (QSW) with registration to **Social Work England**.
Extensive post-qualification experience within Children’s Services, including safeguarding and child protection.
Strong knowledge of child protection legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice.
Proven experience of supervising, mentoring, or supporting colleagues.
Excellent assessment, communication, and report-writing skills.
Ability to balance advanced practice responsibilities with a demanding caseload.
Contract & Salary
Employer: **Stoke-on-Trent City Council**
Service: Children’s Services
Contract type: Full-time, locum/temporary contract via Tripod Partners
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
How to Apply
If you are an experienced Qualified Social Worker looking for an advanced practice role within Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Children’s Services team, we would like to hear from you. Please **apply using the form on the page**.