Consultant Practitioner - Edge of Care Team

Working arrangements: Hybrid Working

We're looking for a dedicated and experienced Consultant Practitioner to join our developing Edge of Care Team, where you'll play a leading role in supporting children to safely remain within their family networks, return home from our care when appropriate, and achieve stable, long-term family arrangements that meet their needs.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an ambitious service that believes children achieve the best outcomes when they are supported to maintain safe, loving and lasting relationships with the people who matter most.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

As a Consultant Practitioner, you will lead on reunification and transition planning across the Edge of Care Service.

You will work closely with children, families, social workers, foster carers, kinship carers and partner agencies to ensure that children experience carefully planned transitions, achieve permanence, and have the best possible opportunity to thrive.

What you'll do

• Lead on reunification assessments, planning and interventions for children and families.
• Develop and embed effective reunification and transition practice across Children's Services.
• Provide advice, guidance and support on complex cases.
• Support children to remain within their family networks wherever safe and possible.
• Work collaboratively with social workers, carers, fostering services and partner agencies.
• Chair professional meetings, including network meetings and planning forums.
• Contribute to quality assurance activities, audits and service improvement projects.
• Promote trauma-informed, restorative and systemic approaches to practice.
• Ensure practice is child-centred, evidence-informed and compliant with relevant legislation and guidance.

About you

You will be a qualified Social Worker who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families and confident in leading complex work across Children's Services.

You will have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification (CQSW, DipSW, BA, MA or equivalent).
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Significant experience within Children's Social Care, including Child in Need, Child Protection and Children Looked After services.
• Experience completing assessments, care planning and court work.
• Strong knowledge of childcare legislation, statutory guidance and care planning processes.
• Experience working with children, families, carers and partner agencies where needs are complex.
• Knowledge of reunification practice, attachment theory, trauma-informed practice, systemic approaches and PACE.
• Excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and drive positive change across services

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Scott.Bennett@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 4th October 2026
Interview Date: Week Commencing 12th October
Interview Process: To be confirmed