Children’s Senior Practitioner

Senior Practitioner – Front Door, Integrated Assessments & Safeguarding
3–6 month contract | Immediate start
£40–£42 per hour
Inside IR35 (via umbrella)
Hybrid working

CVs are being reviewed immediately and interviews will be taking place week commencing 13 April 2026.

If you’re an experienced practitioner who excels at the front door of children’s services and thrives on fast‑paced, high‑impact work, this is a contract worth acting on quickly.

As Senior Practitioner – Front Door, Integrated Assessments & Safeguarding, you will play a pivotal role at the first point of contact, setting the tone for quality, timely and child‑focused practice. You will be reporting directly into the Team Manager and Assistant Team Manager, providing professional leadership, oversight and robust decision‑making in a busy safeguarding environment. You’ll bring confidence, pace and clarity to complex cases, supporting both children and families while ensuring statutory responsibilities are met. This role suits someone who enjoys autonomy, values strong thresholds and can balance risk with proportionate, strengths‑based interventions.

To be considered, you must live within one hour of Oxfordshire to support service demands.

Your role as Senior Practitioner – Front Door, Integrated Assessments & Safeguarding:
• Lead and quality‑assure S17 assessments and S47 investigations, ensuring high standards and timely outcomes
• Provide practice guidance and oversight, supporting less experienced social workers
• Undertake complex safeguarding decision‑making at the front door
• Produce and review clear, analytical reports for conferences and legal processes
• Work closely with partners to ensure effective multi‑agency responses

Your previous experience as Senior Practitioner – Front Door, Integrated Assessments & Safeguarding:
• Minimum 3 years’ post‑qualified experience in children’s assessment and safeguarding
• Strong track record of front‑end decision‑making and risk management
• In‑depth knowledge of Children Act legislation, Working Together and statutory guidance
• Confident communicator with the ability to challenge and influence professionally
• Social Work qualification with Social Work England registration

This is a hands‑on role that requires flexibility, resilience and sound professional judgement. You’ll be trusted to act decisively, keep managers fully informed and maintain high‑quality case oversight in a pressured environment. In return, you’ll step into a role where your expertise is valued, your voice is heard and your impact is immediate.

If you’re interested in discussing Senior Practitioner – Front Door, Integrated Assessments & Safeguarding in more detail, or want to secure an interview while CVs are under review, apply today or get in touch as soon as possible.   (We offer a referral scheme upon successful placement, so please do reach out if you know someone suitable.)

Our clients are committed to creating a diverse workforce. Recruitment decisions are based purely on skills and experience, and reasonable adjustments will be supported throughout the application and hiring process.

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