Locum Safeguarding Advanced Practitioner

Advanced Social Work Practitioner (Children’s)

Brief Job Overview

 
We are recruiting for an experienced and motivated Advanced Social Work Practitioner to join Bedford Borough Council on a 3-month locum contract. This is a non–case-holding role where you will provide leadership, supervision, and oversight to a small team of social workers, ensuring high-quality practice and effective safeguarding outcomes.  

You will work closely with the Team Leader to manage the daily operations of your pod, providing professional supervision, allocating work, and chairing strategy meetings. This is a great opportunity for a senior practitioner who enjoys mentoring others and influencing practice within a supportive, child-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide professional supervision and practice leadership to a pod of five social workers, supporting their development and ensuring the quality of their work.
• Allocate children and cases appropriately within your pod, ensuring a balanced distribution of work and adherence to statutory timescales.
• Chair strategy meetings and contribute to multi-agency decision-making processes to safeguard children effectively.
• Act as duty manager on a rota basis (approximately once every three or four weeks), responding to referrals and supporting staff in making sound safeguarding decisions.
• Provide expert guidance, coaching, and mentoring to social workers, promoting reflective and evidence-based practice.
• Ensure all work complies with Bedford Borough Council’s policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives and quality assurance processes within the wider Children’s Services team.
• Work closely with the Team Leader to support effective operational delivery and maintain a supportive, learning-focused culture.

About You

 
You are a confident and experienced Senior Practitioner or Advanced Social Worker with substantial experience in children’s social care. You have strong leadership skills, a clear understanding of safeguarding processes, and a commitment to supporting your team to deliver the highest standards of practice.  

You lead by example, bring a reflective approach to supervision, and promote professional growth and consistency within your team.

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Substantial post-qualifying experience in Children’s Services, including safeguarding and case management.
• Experience of supervising and developing social workers in a local authority setting.
• Confidence in chairing strategy meetings and managing complex safeguarding situations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to provide professional challenge and clear direction.
• Strong organisational and leadership skills with the ability to prioritise and delegate effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Team Leader and other managers to support the effective running of the service.
• Commitment to reflective supervision, continual learning, and maintaining professional standards.

Contract & Salary

• Job Type: Locum
• Location: Bedford Borough Council
• Service Area: Children’s Services
• Contract Length: 3 months
• Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
• Working Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
• Working Pattern: Office-based with supportive flexible working arrangements

How to Apply

 
If you are an experienced Advanced Social Work Practitioner with strong leadership skills and a commitment to high-quality children’s social care, we’d love to hear from you.  
Please apply using the form on the page.