Advanced Practitioner - Children in Care

Coventry City Council | One Friargate, Coventry 
£33.30 per hour (Umbrella) | Locum contract
Working pattern: Hybrid – minimum 2 days per week in the office + 1 full office-based duty week per month

Coventry City Council is looking for an experienced Advanced Practitioner to join their Children in Care (0–12s) team. This is a brilliant opportunity for a confident, court-experienced practitioner who can work at pace, provide strong case oversight, and keep children at the heart of every decision.

This is a highly statutory role with significant involvement in court work and permanency planning — supporting children throughout their journey through the care system, whether that’s adoption, fostering, connected persons arrangements, or reunification.

About the Role

You’ll manage and progress Children in Care cases end-to-end, ensuring statutory responsibilities are met consistently and to a high standard. The team supports children through the court process and beyond, with a clear focus on safety, stability, and long-term permanency outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

  • Undertake full statutory Children in Care responsibilities including planning, visiting, reviews, and permanency progression.

  • Complete court work across all stages, from Interim Care Orders through to final hearings and conclusion.

  • Lead on PLO processes, including pre-proceedings work, evidence gathering, and timely decision-making.

  • Maintain oversight of Child Protection and Child in Need responsibilities where required, ensuring risk is assessed and managed appropriately.

  • Produce high-quality assessments, statements, care plans, and reports that stand up to scrutiny within legal proceedings.

  • Work closely with families, carers, legal professionals and partner agencies to achieve safe and sustainable plans for children.

  • Support team working, case progression, and strong professional standards across planning and outcomes.

Practice Model

Coventry’s Children in Care service is focused on achieving the right long-term outcomes for children through purposeful planning, timely decision-making and strong multi-agency working. The team works with a child-centred approach to ensure children are supported through their care journey with permanence and stability at the forefront of practice.

Requirements

  • Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW)

  • Registered with Social Work England

  • Significant experience within a Children in Care team

  • Strong and proven confidence in court work and legal processes

  • Sound knowledge of statutory duties across CIC, CIN, CP and PLO

  • Able to work autonomously, manage competing deadlines, and drive cases forward

Benefits

  • Hybrid working structure with clear office expectations

  • Stable, long-term opportunity in a statutory team

  • High exposure to meaningful court and permanency work

  • Supportive team environment with children’s outcomes as the priority

  • Competitive rate under standard MOU (£33.30 Umbrella)

Interested?

Get in touch with Emily Cooper to apply or find out more:
07745 200325 | 01635 226350
ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com