Child Protection Lead Practitioner

Take the next step in your Social Worker career journey, with a transformative Child Protection role At Hampshire, we've embarked on the next phase of our ongoing development, with the launch of our Family Help model. As part of this transformation, we're establishing 34 new Family Help teams across the county, each dedicated to providing tailored support to families in their local area. This new phase offers remarkable opportunities for career advancement, and we are now seeking experienced Social Workers to join us in a newly developed, specialised role as Child Protection Lead Practitioners. Your expertise, gained from previous strong experience, will be pivotal in shaping our approach and supporting a Family Help Team. With support from the Team Manager and Assistant Team Manager, you will have the opportunity to:

• Hold and manage a diverse caseload of complex child protection cases, ensuring the appropriate interventions and support are provided.
• Provide expert guidance and support to colleagues, contributing to their professional development and the overall effectiveness of the team.
• Collaborate with external partners, including other agencies and stakeholders, to coordinate comprehensive support for families.
• Chair meetings and engage confidently with a range of stakeholders to advocate for the needs of children and families.
• Be part of a cohort of Child Protection Lead Practitioners supported by a strategic lead.
At the heart of our practice is the Hampshire Approach, a strength-based framework that informs everything we do. With a focus on continuous learning and development, we empower our staff to deliver the highest quality support to families. What our staff say about working for Children's Services at Hampshire:
• "The Hampshire Approach reconfirms that a positive outlook and approach has a happier and more energetic emphasis on all involved. Using the young person-centred format in case summaries and visits ascertains their achievements, and we can measure how far they have come. For staff, I feel the Hampshire Approach embeds a positive view of working, in turn reducing stress and conflict in the workplace."
• "I have learnt a lot of skills, developed profound knowledge, and gained a lot of experience, that has made me an adept social worker. I have built a lot of confidence, increased my resilience, and identified inner strength within myself."
  
  You'll be part of a strong, safe and supportive team environment, where your contributions are valued and recognised. In addition to a very competitive salary and benefits, we offer extensive training and development opportunities - with 5 CPD days - to enhance your skills and further your career.
Other benefits you will enjoy include:
• PA support: to provide crucial back-office support to free up your time to focus on professional practice.
• A thorough and supportive induction: to enable you to feel confident and knowledgeable in your role.
• Nine-day fortnight: We will provide you with a nine-day fortnight working schedule.
• Flexible working: As part of our ongoing investment into transforming our social care practice, all of our practitioners are given mobile phones and hybrid devices, affording them the functionality to work flexibly and remotely, with a choice of office locations.
• Help with relocation: We offer help with relocation of up to £8,500, for qualified social workers who are moving to Hampshire, to help them settle into their new area and new role as quickly and smoothly as possible.
• Family friendly policies: We offer a full range of family-friendly policies. These include generous maternity, paternity and adoption entitlements.
• Health and wellbeing: We provide an array of services, networks and training to support your health and wellbeing as an employee of Hampshire County Council.
• Staff discounts: You'll have access to a range of discounts on goods and services. These include holidays, insurance, loans, health and fitness, broadband TV and phone, food and drink, and much more.
• Annual leave: We offer a generous annual leave entitlement in addition to Bank Holidays. At this grade, you will receive a minimum of 25 days per annum (pro rata) rising to a maximum of 28 days (pro rata) after 5 years' service, plus Bank Holidays.
• Travel support and discounts: You're able to access a range of travel discounts such as 10% discount on MOTs, a range of cycling discounts with selected retailers and 0% interest loans.
• Local government pension: All Hampshire County Council employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.
At Hampshire, it's not just about a job; it's about having the support to excel in a nurturing, empowering and rewarding environment where you can thrive and make a lasting impact on children's lives. So, if you're ready to be part of a transformative journey this is just what you have been waiting for. You will be required to travel to various locations within Hampshire, and it is essential that you have a current drivers' licence and access to a reliable vehicle on a regular basis.