Locum Safeguarding Senior Practitioner
Bexleyheath, Kent
Senior Practitioner – LAC / Placements / Specialist Services (PP1)
Brief Job Overview
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Practitioner to join the Looked After Children (LAC), Placements, and Specialist Services (PP1) Team at the London Borough of Bexley on a maternity cover contract. This locum role is ideal for a skilled social work professional with a strong background in working with looked after children, care planning, and placement stability. You’ll play a vital part in ensuring that children in care receive the support, guidance, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a complex caseload of Looked After Children (LAC), ensuring that all care planning is timely, robust, and centred around the needs of the child.
- Monitor placements to ensure children are safe, supported, and achieving positive outcomes in line with their individual care plans.
- Lead on placement stability planning and review processes, working closely with foster carers, residential providers, and multi-agency partners.
- Contribute to the commissioning and matching of placements, ensuring each child is placed in an environment that meets their needs and promotes long-term success.
- Prepare clear, analytical, and evidence-based reports for statutory reviews, court hearings, and panel discussions.
- Provide mentoring and professional guidance to less experienced social workers within the team, modelling best practice and supporting reflective learning.
- Work collaboratively with education, health, and partner agencies to ensure a joined-up approach to supporting children in care.
- Maintain high-quality, accurate case recording and ensure compliance with legislation, guidance, and local procedures.
- Represent the local authority at professional meetings, placement panels, and reviews.
About You
You are an experienced children’s social worker with a strong track record of working within Looked After Children and Placements services. You bring professional confidence, analytical skills, and a compassionate approach to supporting children and young people in care. You are also a supportive colleague and mentor who helps to develop others through advice, guidance, and positive leadership.
Requirements
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
- Significant post-qualified experience within LAC, Placements, or Permanency teams.
- Strong understanding of Children Act 1989, Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010, and related statutory guidance.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with children, families, and professionals.
- Experience of mentoring or supporting social work colleagues.
- Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining high practice standards.
- Strong organisational skills with attention to detail in case recording and reporting.
Contract & Salary
- Job Type: Locum – Maternity Cover
- Location: London Borough of Bexley
- Team: LAC / Placements / Specialist Services (PP1)
- Contract Length: Maternity Cover (Fixed-Term)
- Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
- Working Hours: Full-time
- Working Pattern: Hybrid / Office-based as required
How to Apply
If you are a skilled and experienced Senior Practitioner ready to support children in care and contribute to placement stability within Bexley’s Specialist Services Team, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply using the form on the page.