Children's Practitioner - South Oxfordshire

Job Introduction

About Us

Working together to help Children, young people, and families to thrive.

Join Oxfordshire County Council on an exciting journey towards Delivering the Future Together, our ambitious transformation programme which will enable us to be an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice. We’re seeking the right people who can help us get there while embracing our value of ‘daring to do it differently’, as we continue to strive to do better.

In our Children, Education, & Families Directorate, we do our very best to help children, young people, and families to thrive. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach. 

We’ve been consistently rated as “good” by Ofsted, but we are not content with that; we are ambitious and want to do even better! Oxfordshire County Council is a financially stable local authority which is committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the families we work with.

This includes the successful operation of our transformational model Family Safeguarding & Support.

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated Children's Practitioner to join our Family Safeguarding & Support (FSS) team and deliver exceptional service to children, young people, and families.

In this role, you will manage a caseload aligned with your experience and capabilities, ensuring the voices of those you support are heard. Utilising the FSS Workbook modules and employing a strengths-based approach, you will implement timely and effective interventions to meet their needs.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you!

As part of our team, you will:

• Deliver efficient and effective services to children, young people, and their families.
• Utilise the FSS Workbook modules and a strengths-based approach.
• Prepare and submit written reports as required.
• Attend reviews and core groups, presenting interventions clearly and professionally.
• Keep the social worker fully informed of significant information about allocated families, seeking advice as needed.

About you

We would like to hear from you if you are…

• Kind and caring, with an understanding of and respect for individuals’ qualities, abilities, and diverse backgrounds. 
• Advocating for equality and integrity in all you do.
• Always learning, with a passion to grow and develop your skills.
• Willing to take responsibility and contribute to the delivery of Oxfordshire County Council’s vision.
• Driven to do it differently to embark on a journey of continuous improvement.

   You will have:

• Relevant experience of working with children and/or young people and/or families.
• An understanding of the impact of abuse, social deprivation and disadvantage on children, young people and their families.
• Knowledge and understanding of the application of safeguarding principles.
• Ability to case-hold and within this assess, create, and record outcome driven plans for children and young people.

Please refer to the job description attached below for a full list of selection criteria.

Rewards and benefits

Our Rewards and Benefits

• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays) (pro rata)
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24 x7.
• Range of family friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities. 
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.