About this role
Job summary Child Practitioner
Join Oxfordshire County Council as a Child Practitioner and help deliver practical, relationship-based support to children, young people and families who need help and protection.
Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will provide direct support and intervention to families, helping them build on their strengths and achieve positive outcomes. Using the Family Safeguarding approach and Family Safeguarding Practice (FSP) Workbook modules, you will work alongside children, parents and carers to identify needs, support change and reduce risks.
You will contribute to assessments and plans, prepare written reports, attend reviews and core group meetings, and work closely with social workers and partner agencies to ensure coordinated and effective support is provided. Throughout your work, you will ensure that the voice of the child remains central to decision-making and intervention planning.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting children and families, enjoys direct work and values relationship-based practice. You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on children's lives while developing your skills within a supportive and ambitious children's service.
Main duties of the job As a Child Practitioner, you will provide direct support and interventions to children, young people and families, helping them overcome challenges and improve outcomes. Working alongside social workers and partner agencies, you will contribute to assessments, plans and reviews while ensuring children's voices are heard and their needs remain at the centre of all work.
About us Oxfordshire County Council Children's Services is committed to improving the lives of children, young people and families through relationship-based practice, innovation and collaboration. We believe that strong relationships, working with families' strengths and empowering positive change are the foundations of effective support.
As part of a forward-thinking and ambitious service, we continue to invest in our workforce and practice model to ensure children and families receive the right help at the right time. Our culture encourages learning, creativity and continuous improvement, creating an environment where staff can develop professionally while making a meaningful difference every day.
Job description Job responsibilities
About Us
Together, were the moment makers and were focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, youll look around and say, I make a difference. Because were all creating lasting change to peoples lives in Oxfordshire.
Everyday youll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. Were not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives.
We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself while raising the bar for the future of childrens social care.
About the Role
Join our dedicated team at OCC as aChildPractitioner!
You will play a crucial role in ensuring that children, young people and families in need of help and protection receive timely, high quality assessments and support. Your efforts will help identify and meet their needs, reduce risks and safeguard their wellbeing.
Key responsibilities include:
To provide an efficient and effective service to children, young people and their families, ensuring that the needs of the children and their parents/carers are professionally supported, and that relevant interventions are provided where needed, in a timely way. To work with families using the FSP Workbook modules, and a strengths-based approach. To prepare and submit written reports as and when required To attend reviews and core groups presenting interventions undertaken clearly, with professionalism and integrity. To ensure the social worker is kept fully appraised of significant information about allocated families arising, seeking advice as and when necessary. To attend group supervision when required and to ensure that relevant updates are provided before each group supervision session. To proactively liaise with and work in partnership other agencies and organisations, parents and carers. To ensure that the childs voice is considered in all casework and included in all assessments and plans. To promote the involvement of young service users and families in meetings about them, and where possible, in service developmentAbout you
Youre free-thinking and brave, and that sets you apart.Youll besupportiveand energised; you dont accept the norm if it can be done better - finding answers through exploration and courage. Just as importantly, you will embody our values in everything you do.
Fundamentally, youll be passionate about delivering stand-out public services, because were here to make every moment the best it can be for the residents of Oxfordshire.
Does this sound like you? If so, we look forward to receiving your application!
Our commitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.
Our commitment to:Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job.We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships.We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Our commitment to:Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Our commitment to:Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, full time and part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
Follow us on Social Media
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and featured jobs from Oxfordshire County Council by following us onLinkedIn,Facebook,Twitter andInstagram.
Person Specification
General Requirements Essential
Please refer to job description above
Desirable
Please refer to job description above
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Oxfordshire County Council
Address
Banbury
OX16 0EJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)