Practice Lead

Practice Lead – Liverpool City Council

Salary: £53,051–£58,543 per year
Location: Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, UK
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Working hours: 35 hours per week
Working pattern: Agile and fully flexible
Job category: Children’s Services
Visa sponsorship: The advert states that candidates must already have the right to work in the UK or meet Home Office criteria for visa sponsorship. Sponsorship is not guaranteed. Applicants requiring sponsorship should check their Skilled Worker visa eligibility before applying.
Closing date: 29 November 2026, midnight
Shortlisting date: 30 November 2026
Interview date: 11 December 2026
Interview format: Face-to-face
Job reference: liverpoolcitycouncil/TP/691/2375

About Liverpool City Council

Liverpool City Council is committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families across the city. Its Children’s Services team works collaboratively with local communities, families and partner organisations to deliver high-quality public services.

Liverpool Children’s Services has received a positive Ofsted inspection outcome, with three of the four judgement areas rated Good. Inspectors recognised improvements in social work practice, workforce stability and support for practitioners.

The council is looking for an experienced children’s social work professional who can help strengthen practice, support workforce development and promote positive outcomes for children and families.

About the Role

Liverpool City Council is recruiting an enthusiastic and experienced registered children’s social worker to join its Children’s and Young People’s Services as a Practice Lead.

The successful candidate will contribute to learning and development across the social work and wider children’s workforce. You will help practitioners develop their skills, improve practice and deliver services aligned with the council’s practice model, Our City, Our Children, Together.

A Practice Educator qualification is desirable, although candidates who are willing to work towards the qualification may also be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging and effective learning programmes for social workers and other appropriately qualified professionals.
• Lead dynamic, evidence-informed training and development sessions.
• Align learning activities with the Children’s Workforce Academy Operating Model.
• Promote excellent, relationship-based social work practice.
• Champion the council’s practice model, Our City, Our Children, Together.
• Support the Children’s Workforce Academy faculties.
• Help implement the Children and Young People’s Workforce Strategy.
• Contribute to quality assurance and continuous practice improvement.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and reflective supervision or practice support.
• Help ensure practitioners have the skills and confidence to achieve positive outcomes for children, young people and families.

Essential and Desirable Requirements

Applicants should note the following requirements stated in the advert:

• Must be an experienced, registered children’s social worker.
• Should have a passion for supporting colleagues and improving professional practice.
• A Practice Educator qualification is desirable.
• Candidates without the Practice Educator qualification may be considered if they are willing to work towards it.
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK before starting employment or meet the relevant Home Office criteria for visa sponsorship.

For the full essential criteria, qualifications and experience requirements, consult the official job description and person specification.

Salary and Employee Benefits

Liverpool City Council offers a range of employment benefits, including:

• Annual salary of £53,051–£58,543.
• At least 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years of service.
• Option to purchase additional annual leave.
• Agile working, with a flexible approach depending on the role.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, with an option to join the AVC Scheme.
• Professional development, training and progression opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Programme and other health and wellbeing support.
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass schemes.
• Drive Time salary sacrifice car lease scheme.
• Enhanced family-friendly leave policies.
• Discounted gym memberships.
• Employee Volunteering Scheme.
• Medicash.

Working Arrangements

The position is based at Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, with an office basis described as agile and fully flexible.

The role is permanent and full-time, with 35 working hours per week.

Application and Selection Process

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday, 29 November 2026
Shortlisting date: Monday, 30 November 2026
Interview date: Friday, 11 December 2026
Interview format: Face-to-face

Applications are processed through the council’s Tribepad recruitment system. Applicants should complete their profile, including their full employment and education history, and regularly check their registered email address and spam or junk folder for recruitment updates.

The council reserves the right to close the vacancy early, so applicants are encouraged to apply well before the deadline.

For an informal discussion about the role, contact:

• Helen Lea, Principal Social Worker: helen.lea@liverpool.gov.uk
• Harriet Cadman, Recruitment and Retention Lead: harriet.cadman@liverpool.gov.uk

For reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.

How to Apply

Review the full job description and person specification, confirm that you meet the relevant requirements, and submit your application through the official recruitment portal.

Important Visa Sponsorship Information

The advert does not confirm that Liverpool City Council will sponsor every successful applicant for this position. It states that candidates must already have the right to work in the UK or meet the Home Office criteria for visa sponsorship.

Applicants who require sponsorship should check the applicable Skilled Worker visa requirements and confirm the role’s eligibility before applying.