Senior Practice Lead (Cp Courts)

The remit of the role is to work in partnership with and execute the functions of the Principal Social Worker. Senior Practice Leads have a reduced but complex case load to maintain their expertise in Social Work practice. However, their primary function is that of mentoring, developing, and shaping practice across the organisation, and in the support and assessment of newly qualified social workers as they progress through their AYSE. The role is closely aligned to supporting the function of workforce development in reviewing and quality assuring training delivered to the social care work force, delivering aspects of training, and facilitating reflective group supervision/developmental sessions within their localities, and across the service.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for the post of Senior Practice Lead within our Child Protection and Court Team in Winsford. This is a permanent position.
You will need to have considerable experience in:-
Assessment and management of Child Protection, Public Law Outline and Care Proceedings
Supporting / mentoring students, AYSEs and those with less experience.
The ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and manage complexity.
Managing Section 47 investigations and Court work experience
Excellent communication and organisational skills
The remit of the role is to work in partnership with and execute the functions of the Principal Social Worker. Senior Practice Leads have a reduced but complex case load to maintain their expertise in Social Work practice. However, their primary function is that of mentoring, developing, and shaping practice across the organisation, and in the support and assessment of newly qualified social workers as they progress through their AYSE. The role is closely aligned to supporting the function of workforce development in reviewing and quality assuring training delivered to the social care work force, delivering aspects of training, and facilitating reflective group supervision/developmental sessions within their localities, and across the service.
Our Children's Social Care workforce is passionate and committed to improving outcomes for children by providing a consistent, high-quality service to children and families, together with excellent working relationships with our partners and the support from a stable leadership and management team. We are committed to a culture of shared learning and development in which you will have an active part to play in the continued progress of our services to children and families.
We have developed and embedded ‘Our Way of Working’ with our multi-agency partners to ensure improved collaboration and one common approach to our work with families using Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Practice. You will be supported and encouraged to work creatively in planning and decision-making with children and their families and our partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes and with a focus on prevention at every level.
Our social workers will tell you: - They feel supported and part of a team. They have access to excellent training opportunities. Managers at Cheshire West and Chester strive to make Social Workers feel valued and recognised, they are approachable, available, and compassionate. Senior Practice Leads are encouraged and supported to be creative and strive for excellence. They feel valued and supported by their team, manager, and the senior managers.
Our commitment and investment in professional development means that most of our Senior Practice Leads, Team Managers and some Senior Managers have progressed within our own organisation.
As a local authority, we continue to develop and enhance our social work offer to support and develop our valued workforce. We will offer you: -
excellent work-life balance, flexible and remote working arrangements. We took the positives we learned from ‘lockdown’ and kept them
bright, modern, and recently refurbished office environments
high quality progression and developmental opportunities
competitive working rewards
up to 16 days ‘flexi time’ per year as well as your annual leave
high quality supervision
strong reflective practice framework
free parking at all our office locations
we’ll pay your Social Work England registration
excellent training opportunities
re-location allowance in some circumstances
competitive salary
As employers, we recognise that Cheshire West and Chester Council has a major role to play in improving the quality of life of its employees. We are committed to agile flexible and mobile working and helping employees to maintain an effective balance between their work and home life. The COVID lockdown has meant we have been able to improve our ability to work away from an office, to be more flexible and creative in the use of our time and maximising the use of technology, whilst at the same time ensuring we can come together as teams and with our support networks on a regular basis. We have developed a ‘new normal’ and this ‘hybrid’ arrangement allows for us to be more flexible in how we provide services to children and families and an enhanced work/life balance to our Social Workers.
We have a strong and supportive political and senior leadership team with a wealth of experience and knowledge about children’s outcomes across the borough of Cheshire West and Chester.
It is a requirement of the role that you are able to travel to and around the locality.
The salary grade for this post is Grade 11. From £45,291 to £51,987, depending on experience.
See attached Job Description for further information about the principal responsibilities and person specification
For more information or an informal chat, please contact Allison 0151 356 6676 allison.roberts@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

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