Senior Social Worker / Practice Lead – 3 Month Contract

Location: Woolwich, London

Rate: £TBC per hour (Umbrella)

Contract: 3 Month Contract

Pay: Bi-Weekly

Summary

We are seeking a seasoned Senior Social Worker / Practice Lead to offer expert leadership, ensure quality assurance, and deliver high-level social work practice within Children's Services. This pivotal role involves engaging with children in need, those under child protection plans, looked after children, care leavers, disabled children, foster carers, special guardians, and adopters. The ideal candidate will exemplify best practices, mentor junior social workers, and contribute to enhancing service delivery across the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload with significant risk and need.
  
• Conduct specialized assessments and develop effective intervention strategies.
  
• Lead initiatives in safeguarding, child protection, permanence, and care planning.
  
• Chair professional and multi-agency meetings.
  
• Prepare reports and provide evidence for court proceedings, panels, and hearings.
  
• Facilitate timely permanence planning for children unable to stay at home.
  
• Offer professional leadership and mentorship to social workers and students.
  
• Engage in quality assurance, auditing, and practice improvement activities.
  
• Advocate for the voices of children and families in planning and decision-making.
  
• Spearhead learning and development activities within the team.
  
• Collaborate with education, health, police, and partner agencies.
  

Essential

Requirements

Requirements:

• Qualified Social Worker.
  
• Current registration with Social Work England.
  
• Extensive post-qualification experience in Children's Social Care.
  
• Proven expertise in:
  • Child Protection
    
  • Children in Need
    
  • Looked After Children
    
  • Care Proceedings
    
  • Permanence Planning
    
  • Safeguarding
    
• Experience in providing professional leadership and practice guidance.
  
• Competence in preparing court reports and presenting evidence.
  
• Strong skills in assessment, analysis, and decision-making.
  
• Ability to coach, mentor, and support less experienced practitioners.
  
• Excellent communication and multi-agency collaboration skills.
  

Desirable

• Practice Educator qualification.
  
• Experience in quality assurance and auditing activities.
  
• Experience in supervising or mentoring social workers.
  
• Specialized knowledge in fostering, adoption, disability, or safeguarding practices.
  

What's on Offer?

• 3 Month Contract
  
• Bi-Weekly Pay
  
• Opportunity to lead professionally within Children's Services.
  
• Engaging and rewarding work in safeguarding and permanence.
  
• Emphasis on quality assurance, workforce development, and practice enhancement.
  
• Chance to support positive outcomes for children, young people, and families.
  

Suitable for: Senior Social Workers, Practice Leads, Advanced Practitioners, Senior Practitioners, Child Protection Social Workers, Looked After Children Social Workers, and Safeguarding Social Workers.