Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is seeking a dedicated and dynamic Advanced Practitioner to join our Children's Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to provide expert social work practice, mentor colleagues, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our services for children in Stockton-on-Tees.

Pay Rate: £34.45 per hour

What you'll do:

As an Advanced Practitioner, you'll be a vital part of our team, combining direct, high-quality social work with a leadership and development role. Your responsibilities will include:

• Complex Casework: Managing a complex and diverse caseload, providing expert assessment, planning, intervention, and review for children in need of protection, care, or support.
• Practice Leadership: Providing professional guidance, support, and reflective supervision to less experienced social workers, fostering a culture of learning and best practice.
• Quality Assurance: Contributing to the quality assurance framework by undertaking audits, peer reviews, and ensuring adherence to statutory requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Decision Making: Exercising sound professional judgment and making critical decisions in high-risk situations, escalating concerns appropriately.
• Multi-Agency Working: Leading and participating in multi-agency meetings, fostering strong relationships with partner agencies to ensure coordinated and effective support for children and families.
• Court Work: Preparing and presenting reports for court proceedings, providing expert witness testimony when required.
• Service Development: Contributing to the development and implementation of new initiatives, policies, and procedures to enhance service delivery and outcomes for children.
• Mentoring and Training: Acting as a mentor to newly qualified social workers and students, and contributing to internal training programs.

What we're looking for:

• Qualified Social Worker: You must hold a recognized Social Work qualification (e.g., Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW).
• Social Work England Registration: Essential to practice as a Social Worker in England.
• Enhanced DBS: You will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Extensive Post-Qualifying Experience: Significant experience in children's social work, including complex safeguarding, looked after children, and court work.
• Expert Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, policy, and research relating to children's social care.
• Leadership Potential: Demonstrable ability to guide, support, and develop other professionals.
• Strong Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse individuals and present complex information clearly.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Ability to manage demanding workloads, work effectively under pressure, and adapt to changing priorities.

If you're ready to take the next step in your social work career and contribute to positive outcomes for children and families in Stockton-on-Tees, we encourage you to apply!

Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.

Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.