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Senior Practitioner - Kinship Assessment Team
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Senior Practitioner - Kinship Assessment Team
Assessing Senior Practitioner (Kinship Assessments) – Permanent Role
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA
Salary: £46,110 – £50,079 per annum (inclusive of £2,250 market premium) – pro rata for part-time (Pay Award pending)
Working Hours: 37 hours per week (Monday – Friday)
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 16th July 2026
Interview Date(s): To Be Confirmed
About the Role
We are seeking a passionate Assessing Senior Practitioner to join our Kinship Assessment Team, where you will direct and support children to remain in safe, loving kinship care arrangements.
This is a dual-role position, combining:
- Case Management: Conducting detailed kinship assessments (initial viability assessments and full Form C & SGO kinship assessments) to ensure safe, stable placements.
- Team Leadership Support: Assisting the team manager in operational tasks, including:
- Meeting attendance and quality assurance of reports
- Supervising support workers and external assessors
- Developing the team’s progression pathway (e.g., kinship carers advancing to a Special Guardian Order (SGO) or Children Act Order)
- Leading discussion groups (PACE and DDP training integration)
- Evaluating and embedding reforms, particularly family reunification efforts (e.g., helping children return home)
Key Responsibilities
- Foster therapeutic, trauma-informed assessments with kinship carers and their households.
- Build strong relationships and confidence in carers to ensure secure, nurturing environments for children.
- Ensure continuity of support from initial assessment through permanence planning.
- Promote continuity and belonging by embedding practices such as PACE (Promoting Alternative Care in Europe) and DDP (Developmental, Trauma and Attachment).
- Work across kinship foster care, special guardianship, children in care (CAO), and reunification pathways.
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Service Focus
- Encourage kinship carers’ networks through training, mentorship, and community events.
- Strengthen partnerships with statutory agencies, legal services, and Complex Family Support Teams.
- Participate in duty cover on a rotating basis.
Culture & Engagement
- Organise and support kinship carer events (including evening/weekend engagements).
- Drive inclusivity and support systems for carers at all stages of their journey.
About You
Essential Requirements
✅ Qualification:
- Social Work degree (e.g., CQSW, DipSW with specialisation in Children’s Services) or equivalent, with ASYE pass as minimum.
✅ Experience:
- Several years of post-qualification experience in statutory childcare social work, including:
- Safeguarding and child protection assessments
- Care proceedings
- Kinship care/foster care evaluation
✅ Specialist Knowledge & Skills:
- Guided kinship carer assessments following Fostering Regulations, National Minimum Standards, and LCC Kinship Strategy.
- Experience with therapeutic or trauma-informed parenting interventions (e.g., PACE or DDP).
- Familiarity with unity family strengths assessments and ind دسامبر collaterals.
- Sound understanding of children’s rights, guardianship pathways, and reunification efforts.
✅ Professional Competence:
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) including robust self-reflection practices.
- Ability to:
- Prioritise effectively across multiple deadlines.
- Negotiate and communicate persuasively with various stakeholders (agencies, families, carers).
- Adapt to exceeded workload demands in a fast-paced environment.
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✅ Compliance & Technology:
- Passes an enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check with a barred list clearance.
- Proficient in:
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, database applications).
Desirable (but Not Compulsory)
🔹 Training or experience in complex psychological assessments (e.g., child mental health, safeguarding discrepancies). 🔹 Commitment to employee well-being and diversity inclusion.
Employment Values
All candidates must embrace Leicestershire County Council’s core values and demonstrate a commitment to: 🔹 Accessibility and inclusivity in service delivery. 🔹 Equality of opportunity for kinship carers regardless of outcome/journey phase.
How to Apply
To secure this role, submit: ✔ CV ✔ Supporting statement addressing the About You criteria.
Failure to provide a statement will result in rejection. Apply via the [careers platform](insert link) by 16th July 2026.
For technical issues or flexibility discussions: 📞 0300 3030222 (Employee Service Centre, option 2)
Disability Recognition: Leicestershire County Council follows Disability Confident practices and offers reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities.
👉 Get in touch for more details: 🍼 Rebecca Allen (Team Manager, Kinship) 📧 Rebecca.Allen@leics.gov.uk 📞 +441163054847
About Leicestershire County Council
We’re Leicestershire’s collaborative public service provider, shaping safety, education, and opportunities for residents. Our people—our passion—makes a difference every day.
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