Job Description

As an Advanced Practitioner working in the Birth to Settled Adulthood team, you will benefit from a strong supportive team culture centred around shared learning and reflective practice. You will have the opportunity to work with Social Worker and Family Support Workers in a new service where we aim to improve the way we support children and young people with complex needs or who are disabled as they grow into adults. We work with children and young people from birth to 25 years of age to ensure that our young people can progress smoothly at key stages of development in their life, so that by the age of 25 every young person eligible for support from the service will experience a smooth transition into adult services.



You will join a friendly, dedicated, talented and passionate team of social workers, family workers, students and apprentices who value getting things right for children and who use a strengths based restorative approach. Their passion and commitment to children and families is reflected in the performance data which is consistently good. Supervision is a priority, giving considerable focus and attention to ensuring the wellbeing of colleagues while remaining focused on achieving positive outcomes for our children and their family.

What you will be doing:

You will be part of an experienced and committed management team. You will be instrumental in driving development across our newly formed Birth to Settled Adulthood service, working alongside both children and adult practitioners. You will lead on the team's professional development, including learning circles, reflective practice sessions and group supervision while holding a small complex caseload.



You will have a key role with our Social Work Apprentices and students, supporting their learning and professional development. You will serve as a vital link between the principal social worker and the wider team, ensuring effective communication and collaboration for the benefit of all.

About you:

If you are passionate about making a real impact on the lives of families in Dorset, developing professionally, supporting others to develop and want to contribute to the development of practice more broadly an application from you would be welcomed.



You must have a Social Work qualification, be registered with Social Work England for more than three years, and able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post. If you have significant experience of working in statutory social care services, strong leadership skills and a great working knowledge of statutory legislation, we would like to hear from you.



The post is based in the Dorchester Local Office and will be a county-wide role. Flexible working arrangements can be considered subject to the needs of the service.




Contact details:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Claire Western; claire.western@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk



This is a full time role at 37 hours per week.



You must:


have a degree in social work/Occupational Therapy or equivalent be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.



See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.



See our adult safeguarding policy.



See the children's social worker framework.