Consultant Practitioner - Kinship & Permanence

location\_on
Reading
14/06/2026

Consultant Practitioner \- Kinship \& Permanence

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Salary
(£50,075 \- £56,269 per year with £6,000 market supplement included

Contractual hours
37

Basis
Full time

Region
Permanent / Full\-Time

Job category/type
Children's Services, Social Work/Care

Date posted
02/06/2026

Job reference
DOC0093

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Consultant Practitioner to join our Kinship \& Permanence Service, playing a pivotal role in securing stable, loving homes for children in our care.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled social worker who wants to remain in frontline practice while also shaping service development and supporting colleagues. You will manage a complex caseload, undertake high\-quality assessments, and contribute to improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

Working within a multi\-agency environment, you’ll collaborate closely with social workers, carers, health and education professionals, and our regional adoption agency to deliver effective permanence planning.

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 roleAs a Consultant Practitioner, you will manage a complex and rewarding caseload, working with kinship carers and special guardians to secure the best outcomes for children in care. Alongside your casework, you’ll contribute to practice development, mentoring colleagues, and driving service improvement.

You’ll operate in a collaborative, multi\-agency environment, working closely with professionals across social care, health, education, and therapeutic services to ensure children’s needs are met holistically.

In this specialist role, you will:

• Undertake a range of complex assessments


• Produce high\-quality, analytical reports with clear recommendations


• Present assessments at Fostering Panel and in Court, including giving evidence where required


• Provide training, preparation and ongoing support to kinship carers and prospective special guardians


• Chair placement planning and support meetings


• Support permanence planning for children, ensuring their voice and rights remain central

Alongside casework, you’ll also:

• Mentor and support less experienced colleagues, helping to raise practice standards


• Lead or contribute to service development projects and innovation


• Design and deliver training on kinship care and permanency planning


• Undertake audits and contribute to inspection readiness (e.g. Ofsted)


• Build strong working relationships across multi\-agency partners

About you

We are looking for an experienced and confident social worker who thrives in complex situations and is passionate about achieving permanency for children.

You will bring:

• A recognised social work qualification and Social Work England registration


• At least 3 years’ post qualifying experience, ideally within kinship, fostering, or permanence work


• Strong knowledge of:

+ Children’s social care legislation
+ Fostering, adoption, and special guardianship frameworks
+ Safeguarding and children’s rights

• Experience of undertaking complex assessments and presenting findings clearly


• Confidence in court work, including giving evidence and handling cross\-examination


• The ability to work effectively with families, carers, and multi\-agency partners


• Strong analytical and report\-writing skills


• Excellent communication, relationship\-building and influencing skills


• The ability to manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines

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 alexandra.lambert@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 14th June 2026

Interview Date: Week commencing 22nd or 29th June 2026

Interview Process: To be confirmed
Consultant Practitioner \- Kinship \& Permanence

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