Advanced Practitioner - Req24448

Job Purpose: The Advanced Practitioner role is to deal with the most complex cases requiring a social worker of considerable experience with a wide knowledge base and excellent skills. The role will predominantly manage a complex caseload, support the team manager on day to day operational issues and work on complex cases with less experienced workers to ensure quality and consistency and to disseminate learning., Manages a caseload of the most complex cases. Case allocation will be determined based on their complexity, level of risk, profile and potential publicity surrounding a case.

Undertake complex case assessments

This post demands increased level of autonomy and decision making, based on experience and knowledge, around the case allocated and report to the Team Manager on case progress, risks, and outcomes.

To co-work and coach less experienced social workers on cases so they can benefit from the greater experience and expertise of an Advanced Practitioner

Support Team Managers in.

• overseeing and decision making with regard to allocation of cases and workloads


• ensuring case work is appropriately planned, critically evaluated, and reviewed


• achieving timescales and targets in respect to performance indicators


Mentor, coach and advise newly qualified and less experienced social work staff

Line manage and supervise Social Work Assistants, Trainee, or newly qualified social workers

Undertake Practice Educator Level 2 training, supervise students and provide mentoring support to those wishing to undertake Practice Educator 2.

Provide consultation and development in the areas of social care staff acquiring skills.

Provide direction and development in consistent application of thresholds

Chairing planning and review meetings e.g., supervision order reviews, child and family support meetings and other relevant meetings in respect of children in need or at risk

Lead and contribute to strategic developments and support the embedding of excellent practice across the city

To effective use and manage appropriate financial resources within available budgets

Flexible working arrangements, including evening and/or weekends, may be necessary on occasion to complete on-going casework, emergency situations, evening visits or meetings

Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade

Lead on and participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills to meet national standards

To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.

To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.

Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.

Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person

Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.

Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

You will have excellent communication skills and be a team player. You will be motivated and a critical thinker with the ability to understand the needs of your customers.

What you will bring to the role

We are looking to recruit an Advanced Practitioner who is committed to working restoratively with children and families in Leeds.

Interviews to be held 4th June 2024.

Leeds City Council are committed to promoting and living our values of being open, honest and trusted ~ treating people fairly ~ spending money wisely ~ working as a team for Leeds ~ working with communities

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children's barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates., The post requires an appropriate professional qualification (DipSW, Degree, CQSW or equivalent).

You should be registered with Social Work England upon commencement of the post and maintain registration.

To have Practice Educator level 1 or 2 or be willing to work towards Practice Educators levels 1 and 2.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.

Able to critically apply social work theory in practice

Able to identify indicators of risk and carry out effective risk assessment

Able to communicate, negotiate and influence a wide range of practitioners, managers, and partners from other agencies

Able to present and disseminate information to support learning and development of social care staff and partners

Able to chair meetings

Competent in the use of ICT

Able to lead practice development

Knowledge Required

Extensive knowledge of relevant childcare legislation, including public and private law proceedings

Of current developments affecting the provision of children's services from a legal, political, and social policy context

Of social work practice issues

Extensive knowledge of child protection issues and best practice

Understanding of the work of other key agencies and links to social work practice

Extensive knowledge of social work theory and methods that underpin practice

In depth knowledge of current research findings and their implication to practice

Of the work of CWDC Social Work programme and Task Force findings and the potential for improvement of social work

Evidence of continuous professional development since qualification which could include Post Qualifying Award of PQCCA

Of budgetary and financial regulations

Experience Required

Extensive post qualifying experience in Children and Families Work in a Local Authority setting with demonstrable experience in a child protection setting

Of developing inter agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to work with children and families

Of providing structured supervision for social work staff/students

Of supervising, mentoring and coaching staff through assessment and care planning processes and court proceedings

Of preparing and presenting high quality reports on complex issues to a range of different audiences

Extensive experience of using a range of social work interventions to undertake assessments of complex family situations

Of having a student or be willing undertake PE levels 1 and 2 and support students.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

Committed to continuous improvement.

Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.

To carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.

Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development, including the achievement of Advanced Social Work Professional status and ongoing re-assessment of status

Ability to inspire and motivate self and colleagues.

To be committed to deliver high quality social care services

To deliver services to children and young people with a clear child centred approach and philosophy

Committed to continuous improvement and high quality service provision

Taking ownership for informed decisions and delivering quality outcomes

High degree of personal integrity with commitment to fairness, diversity, and equality and to actively promote the Council's Equal Opportunities Policy.

Willingness to lead by example to promote excellence

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates., Car driver.

Would you like to be part of something bigger and join us in our ambition to become the Best Council, working together as a Team for Leeds. Do your values match ours and do you have something to offer?

Leeds City Council delivers over 500 different services to residents and is dedicated to bringing the benefits of a prosperous, vibrant, and attractive city to the people of Leeds. This is a fantastic time to join us.


• Leeds City Council pays the Real Living Wage as a minimum and has a competitive pay progression structure


• Generous Employer Pension contributions


• Flexible Career Paths with tailored personal and professional development


• Supportive Staff Networks and Teams


• Free, Confidential, 24/7 Counselling support and Debt advice


• Home and Electronics Discount Scheme from many high street retailers. Spread the cost through payroll deductions


• Hybrid working arrangements (subject to needs of the role) and a Flexitime system


• Cycle to work scheme and Annual staff travel cards


• Our shared values and behaviours help everyone be their best in a supportive, values-based organisation


• A range of working locations across the city with flexible and core working hours


• As part of the People Strategy, we strive for a culture built on fairness, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and fairness.


Introduction to the role/Team

We provide comprehensive support and training packages at all levels with clear career progression opportunities and were awarded best Social Work Employer in 2019. We have a stable management team and therefore can offer continuous support, guidance and reflective supervision allowing you to grow and develop through your career.

As Child Friendly Leeds our vision is for Leeds to be the best city in the UK and the best city for children and young people to grow up in. Through our vision and obsessions, we invest in children and young people to help build an increasingly prosperous and successful city. We aim to improve outcomes for all our children whilst recognising the need for outcomes to improve faster for children and young people from vulnerable and deprived backgrounds.

Children's social work in Leeds is underpinned by a culture of restorative practice and the use of family decision making including Family Group Conferencing is critical to our work.

Our approach was recognised by Ofsted in 2022 when we were judged as outstanding:

"The Leeds model of practice, based on a restorative approach with families, is coherent and palpable throughout the services offered to children. Families are routinely offered family group conferencing (FGC) which harnesses purposeful support from extended families and friends to build strength around families and is helping to reduce risk to children. Children are seen frequently by their social workers. Social workers develop meaningful relationships with children and use the strength of the restorative, relational approach to really get to know their children and develop enduring relationships with them. Children also have access to advocacy services, which means that their views are consistently heard at key meetings to inform decision-making."

Your Role

Please refer to attached job specifications for more details about the requirements for each level.