Locum Safeguarding Advanced Practitioner

Child & Family Advanced Practitioner

Location: Gloucestershire County Council

Contract Type: Locum / Temporary

Salary: £negotiable

Start Date: ASAP

Working Pattern: Hybrid (office-based for visits and duty; home-based for administrative tasks)

About the Role

Gloucestershire County Council is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Social Worker to join our Children and Families Team as an Advanced Practitioner. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering a first-class social work service that achieves the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and their families.

As an Advanced Practitioner, you will lead by example—taking responsibility for a protected caseload of complex cases while providing guidance, quality assurance, and practice development support to colleagues. You’ll be a resilient and reflective practitioner who thrives in a dynamic environment, championing high standards of practice and contributing to the continuous improvement of the service.

Main Responsibilities

 
• Manage a protected caseload of children and families with complex needs, risks, and circumstances, ensuring timely, proportionate, and effective interventions.
   

• Provide professional expertise, mentoring, and support to social work colleagues to develop best practice and improve service delivery.
   

• Lead on quality control and improvement initiatives within the team, supporting performance management and reflective practice.
   

• Ensure that all casework is underpinned by a strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and child development.
   

• Promote and model a strengths-based, relational, and trauma-informed approach to working with children and families.
   

• Work collaboratively with colleagues, partners, and agencies to deliver holistic, child-centred plans and interventions.
   

• Contribute to the ongoing development of the service, supporting innovation and the implementation of best practice models.
   

• Support the delivery of a high-quality duty service and maintain strong visibility within the team to promote stability and cohesion.

Requirements

 
• Essential qualification: Degree in Social Work (DipSW, CQSW, CSS, or equivalent).
   

• Registration: Registered with Social Work England.
   

• Significant post-qualifying experience in children’s social care, including complex casework and risk assessment.
   

• Proven ability to support and develop the practice of other social workers.
   

• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory responsibilities, and best practice in safeguarding and child protection.
   

• Excellent communication, organisational, and decision-making skills.
   

• Resilient, reflective, and driven, with a clear commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.

Working Arrangements

Gloucestershire County Council operates a hybrid working model. Practitioners are expected to attend the office for duty, face-to-face visits, and team collaboration while working from home for administrative duties. Initially, greater office presence will be required to support team integration and cohesion.

Why Join?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a forward-thinking local authority committed to improving the lives of children and families. You’ll work alongside passionate professionals in a supportive and collaborative environment that values innovation, learning, and reflective practice.

Interested? Apply now to join Gloucestershire County Council as a Child & Family Advanced Practitioner and play your part in shaping positive futures for children and young people across the county.