Advanced Practitioner / Senior Social Worker – Child in Need

About the role

Trafford Council is seeking an experienced Advanced Practitioner / Senior Social Worker to join its Families First – Child in Need service. Working on a locality basis across the borough, you will lead practice standards while managing a complex caseload of families requiring Child in Need support.

Key responsibilities

• Provide practice leadership and mentoring to team staff, student social workers and newly qualified practitioners.
• Manage a varied, high‑quality caseload of families, delivering relationship‑focused interventions.
• Participate in duty rota, lead Section 47 child protection enquiries and produce comprehensive assessments.
• Build strengths‑based partnerships with families to safely step down statutory plans.

Required profile

• Qualified Social Worker with a current Social Work England registration.
• Significant post‑qualifying experience in statutory Child Protection, Duty & Assessment or Child in Need services.
• Proven supervisory or mentoring experience.
• Exceptional analytical, decision‑making and report‑writing abilities.

Required skills

• Advanced assessment and risk‑management techniques.
• Strong report‑writing and documentation skills.
• Knowledge of Section 47 enquiries and Child in Need planning.
• Ability to develop strengths‑based, relational practice.

What we offer

• Competitive hourly rate of £37.00.
• Specialised practice model within a newly structured service.
• Hybrid working across Trafford Council locations.
• Opportunity to influence frontline practice standards.