Locum Child Protection Assessments Qualified Social Worker

Locum Advanced Practitioner – Early Help / Front Door Team

Role Overview

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Advanced Practitioner to join the Early Help / Front Door Team. This senior frontline role is ideal for an experienced Children’s Social Worker looking to combine casework with leadership responsibilities, supporting practitioners while ensuring children and families receive timely and effective interventions.

You will supervise 2–3 Family Support Practitioners (FSPs), provide expert guidance on threshold decision-making, and support the daily operation of a busy Front Door service. Working closely with Children’s Services, Housing and partner agencies, you will play a key role in ensuring vulnerable children and families receive the right support at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

   
• Provide regular supervision, mentoring and professional support to 2–3 Family Support Practitioners.
     

• Support the daily duty function while managing your own complex workload.
     

• Apply statutory thresholds when considering Section 17 support relating to homelessness and financial assistance.
     

• Complete and oversee Human Rights Assessments to determine whether Section 17 support should continue where appeal rights have been exhausted.
     

• Review and progress contacts received through the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), applying appropriate safeguarding thresholds.
     

• Provide consultation and advice to frontline practitioners on complex safeguarding and threshold decisions.
     

• Work collaboratively with Housing Services to support families, attending daily meetings and undertaking case consultations.
     

• Support the development of frontline staff, students and volunteers through regular supervision and coaching.
     

• Maintain accurate case records and ensure compliance with statutory guidance and organisational procedures.

About You

You will be an experienced Senior Social Worker with excellent knowledge of Early Help, Front Door and MASH services. You will be confident supervising practitioners, making complex threshold decisions and working effectively within a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Requirements

   
• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
     

• Minimum of 3 years’ post-qualified experience within Children’s Social Care.
     

• Previous experience supervising frontline practitioners, students and/or volunteers.
     

• Strong understanding of Section 17 legislation relating to homelessness and financial support.
     

• Experience completing Human Rights Assessments and applying statutory thresholds.
     

• Excellent knowledge of MASH, Front Door services and safeguarding threshold decision-making.
     

• Ability to manage competing priorities within a busy duty environment.
     

• Excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.

Contract & Salary

   
• Job Title: Locum Advanced Practitioner – Early Help / Front Door Team
     

• Job Type: Locum
     

• Contract: Ongoing / Initial assignment (subject to service requirements)
     

• Salary: Negotiable

How to Apply

If you are an experienced Senior Social Worker looking to step into an Advanced Practitioner role, we’d love to hear from you. This is an excellent opportunity to combine frontline practice with leadership, helping to shape high-quality services for children and families. Apply using the form on the page.