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Job Title: Advanced Practitioner, Children’s Emergency Duty Team
Working Pattern: Rota basis, evenings, weekends and bank holidays; predominantly home based with occasional office-based shifts in Lincoln
Salary: £42,839 - £47,181 + unsociable hours 4.05% of salary + sleeper payment Pay Award Pending
Location: Lincolnshire (home based with some office working in Lincoln)
Closing Date: 3rd August 2026
Interviews: 10 August 2026, Lincoln County Offices

We currently have a unique opportunity for 2 positions as an Advanced Practitioner in our Children’s Emergency Duty Team.

Children Social Work in Lincolnshire

This is an exciting opportunity to have real input into the efficient and effective delivery of social care in a nationally leading local authority. Our Children's Services is rated by Ofsted as Outstanding. This is an incredible achievement and something we are extremely proud of as it reflects the quality of social work practice in Lincolnshire.

Our practice model is “Signs of Safety” and this is underpinned by a firm commitment to restorative practice, working in a way where the strengths of the family and their network are honoured and families are supported to develop their own solutions. Most importantly, we believe the voice of the child should be at the very heart of every plan.

About the role of an EDT Advanced Practitioner

The Emergency Duty Team are a small and supportive team who work evenings, weekends and bank holidays on a rota system, responding to emergency situations that arise outside of office hours which cannot be left until the next working day, acting to ensure the immediate protection and safeguarding of children and young people who have or who are at risk of harm.

This post is ideal for an experienced Social Work Practitioner, with a sound knowledge of safeguarding thresholds, legislative and statutory duties and responsibilities and safety planning.

What our team say

Ann converting to permeant from agency

I have thoroughly enjoyed the 18 months I have spent working on EDT and can honestly say it has been my favourite social work role to date. I have absolutely loved the home life work balance and adapted quickly to the shift patterns. Bonnie and Steffi have a wealth of experience and are always willing to support and share their expertise which has been instrumental in my growth and confidence with decision making. It has been such a learning curve, you are assessing from the perspective of immediate safety which is so different to ongoing case management. You work autonomously, are required to assess situations quickly, manage risks and make decisions to ensure the immediate safety of children and young people. Initially, I felt like a deer in the headlights, but with the support of the team I have developed the confidence to trust my professional judgement. Having the opportunity to chair Strategy Discussions out of hours and make critical decisions in time-sensitive situations has significantly enhanced my skills and professional development. It has been the springboard for me to progress into the Lead Child Protection role. No two shifts are ever the same; the variety of work is immense, and every shift brings new challenges and opportunities to learn. I cannot recommend the experience highly enough. Working on EDT provides invaluable insight into the crucial work out of hours and a unique opportunity to develop professionally while being part of an amazing and supportive team.

Sandra

At Lincolnshire EDT, we are a small team of four Social Workers and one Team Manager, but together we are one strong and supportive team.
Working across Lincolnshire's diverse communities, from urban areas to rural villages and coastal towns, no shifts are ever the same. One evening you may be responding to a new crisis, while the next you could be supporting a family you know well. The work is varied, challenging and, above all, incredibly rewarding.
What makes our team unique is the way we support one another. Our Team Manager is approachable, values every voice and genuinely listens. We prioritise wellbeing, regularly catch sessions on a Monday, regular check ins with one another and we recognise the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Whether that means swapping shifts when needed, debriefing after a difficult situation or simply offering support following a challenging night, we work together as a team.
Although there may be times when you are the only EDT social worker on shift, you are never truly alone. Our team culture is built on collaboration and mutual support. We have a trusted phone a friend approach, ensuring that advice, guidance and encouragement are always just a call or message away. We look out for one another because we understand the pressures and responsibilities that come with out-of-hours social work.
We are passionate advocates for the children and families we support. We work closely with colleagues across the Local Authority, ensuring that the voices of vulnerable families are heard. When we identify opportunities for improvement, we speak up, and our contribution is valued.
Most importantly, we genuinely enjoy working together. We celebrate successes, support each other through challenges and foster a positive team environment where people feel respected, valued and empowered.

Whilst there is an on-call senior manager available by telephone for support with serious incidents, the successful candidate will need to work autonomously, manage competing demands and work under pressure without the real-time support of their line manager. It is essential for the post holder to have excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to engage multi agency partners and families in developing effective safety plans for children and young people. In addition, the post holder will need to have a strong understanding of safeguarding procedures, be able to hold strategy discussions and progress section 47 investigations.

This role is predominantly home based however the post holder will, by agreement, be required to work from the office for some shifts up until midnight on occasions. The post holder must have the ability to travel and respond to situations that arise during a shift.

To apply, you will have:

• A recognised social work qualification and Social Work England registration.

• Significant social work experience and an in-depth knowledge of relevant legislation.

• Knowledge of Social Care Intervention thresholds.

• A firm belief in the importance of social work values and practice.

• A strength’s based and creative and innovative approach to problem solving.

• An excellent communicator who builds strong working relationships with colleagues, families and external agencies.

• Excellent time management and organisational skills.

• Above all, to want to achieve the best possible result for each and every child.

If you are interested in applying for this role and wish for more information,including details on the working pattern please reach out to Carly Limming at Carly.Limming@lincolnshire.gov.uk.Interviews will be held on 10/08/2026 at Lincoln County Offices

At Lincolnshire County Council, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we offer a rewarding package designed to support your work–life balance, health and wellbeing, financial security, and career growth. Find out more about our offer to you here.

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

Please refer to our Job Information Pack here to support you in your application.

Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. Please also note: once an application is submitted it is final and cannot be amended. If you withdraw your application, it cannot be reinstated and you will not be able to submit another application for that vacancy. If you have an issue with your submitted application, please contact recruitment@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary. Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Fluency Duty

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Our values – collaborative, adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everything we do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values and bring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a real difference in the communities we serve.