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 role combines leadership responsibilities with direct practice, supporting colleagues while managing complex safeguarding cases and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, child-centred social work.
As an Advanced Practitioner, you will provide professional guidance, mentoring, and reflective supervision to colleagues, as well as contributing to service development and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Lead on complex safeguarding and child protection cases in line with statutory requirements.
Provide professional supervision, mentoring, and reflective support to social workers and support staff.
Undertake detailed assessments of children and families to inform planning and decision-making.
Develop, implement, and review tailored care and protection plans.
Prepare and present high-quality, evidence-based reports for court, child protection conferences, and statutory panels.
Chair and actively contribute to multi-agency meetings, ensuring effective partnership working.
Work closely with children, families, and carers to build strong relationships and achieve positive, lasting outcomes.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case records in line with legislation and council policy.
Contribute to service audits, quality assurance, and continuous improvement within Children’s Services.
About You
You are a resilient and motivated social worker with extensive post-qualification experience in children’s services. You are confident in safeguarding practice, skilled in mentoring colleagues, and committed to achieving safe and positive outcomes for children and families.
Requirements
Qualified Social Worker (QSW) with registration to **Social Work England**.
Significant post-qualification experience within statutory Children’s Services, including safeguarding and complex casework.
Strong knowledge of child protection legislation, statutory frameworks, and best practice.
Proven experience of supervising, mentoring, or supporting colleagues in a social work setting.
Excellent assessment, communication, and report-writing skills.
Ability to balance leadership responsibilities with complex case management.
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 to take on an advanced 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**.