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Senior Social Worker / Advanced Practitioner – Children’s Social Work

Location: Barnet Council

Contract Type: Locum / Temporary

Duration: 3 months

Salary: £negotiable

Start Date: ASAP

About the Role

Barnet Council is seeking an experienced and confident Senior Social Worker / Advanced Practitioner to join our Children’s Social Work (CSW) team on a 3-month interim contract. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly skilled practitioner to take on a leadership-focused frontline role, supporting best practice and improving outcomes for children, young people, and families across Barnet.

As a Senior Social Worker / Advanced Practitioner, you will hold a protected complex caseload while providing mentoring, guidance, and quality assurance within the team. You’ll champion reflective, strengths-based, and relationship-led practice, supporting the delivery of consistent, high-quality interventions that promote safety, stability, and positive change.

Main Responsibilities

 
• Undertake and lead on complex assessments, ensuring that children and families receive timely, proportionate, and effective support.
   

• Develop and review Child in Need, Child Protection, and Care Plans that are outcome-focused and informed by the child’s voice.
   

• Provide professional oversight, guidance, and mentoring to less experienced social workers to support skill development and quality assurance.
   

• Work directly with children and families to assess risk, build on strengths, and achieve sustainable change.
   

• Contribute to strategy discussions, multi-agency meetings, and court proceedings, preparing clear, evidence-based reports.
   

• Support the delivery of reflective supervision, peer learning, and continuous professional development within the team.
   

• Promote trauma-informed, restorative, and relationship-based approaches across practice and decision-making.
   

• Ensure all recording, reporting, and assessments meet statutory, legal, and local authority standards.

Requirements

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

• Registration: Registered with Social Work England.
   

• Substantial post-qualifying experience in children’s social care, with evidence of managing complex casework and mentoring others.
   

• Strong understanding of child protection, safeguarding legislation, and systemic approaches to social work practice.
   

• Excellent communication, analytical, and report-writing skills.
   

• Ability to demonstrate leadership qualities and promote high professional standards within the team.
   

• Commitment to strengths-based, child-centred, and reflective practice.

Why Join?

Barnet Council is a progressive and ambitious local authority that values professional excellence, continuous learning, and collaborative working. You’ll join a service that promotes innovation and supports its workforce through reflective supervision, manageable caseloads, and strong leadership.

This short-term opportunity provides a chance to apply your expertise, influence practice quality, and make a real difference for children and families in Barnet while contributing to the ongoing development of a high-performing social work service.

Interested? Apply now to join Barnet Council’s Children’s Social Work Team as a Senior Social Worker / Advanced Practitioner and help shape positive outcomes for children and young people.