Job Introduction
Practice Supervisor – Care Leavers Service
Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,142 + £3000 annual Retention Payment
18 Month Fixed Term Contract
Location: Bradford
About Bradford Children and Families Trust
Bradford Children and Families Trust was established in April 2023 with a clear mission: to transform the quality and delivery of Children’s Services across our district and make a real difference in the lives of children and young people. This is a bold ambition, one that requires dedication, determination, and resilience.
With a new Chief Executive, a strong Senior Leadership Team, and an unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for children and families, we are on the right trajectory. Ofsted monitoring visits over the past 18 months confirm that significant improvements have been made and are being embedded. We know there is still work to do, but we are confident in our progress and committed to getting it right.
Working for Bradford Children and Families Trust means joining a passionate team in a city rich in diversity and culture. We work collaboratively with partners to ensure families receive the right support at the right time. Here, you can make a real difference, helping shape services that meet the needs of Bradford families and improve life chances for children and young people.
We believe families are the experts in their own lives, and listening to their voices is central to everything we do. That is why we have invested in our Voice and Participation Service to ensure children, care leavers and families are actively involved in shaping the support they receive. Our aspiration is that all service development is co-produced with those who matter most.
We are also committed to becoming a restorative and relational organisation. For over a year, we have partnered with the Leeds Relational Practice Centre and renowned expert Mark Finnis to embed relational practice across our workforce. Through conferences, workshops, and leadership development, we are building a shared understanding of what this means for children, care leavers and families and we are excited about the journey ahead.
About the Care Leavers Service
Care-experienced young people face significant challenges as they transition from care to independence, often leaving home at a much earlier age and without the consistent family support their peers enjoy. Many have experienced trauma, instability, and adversity, which can impact their confidence and opportunities. Sadly, care-experienced young people are statistically more likely to face poorer long-term outcomes compared to their peers: they are less likely to be in education, employment, or training, and more likely to experience homelessness, long-term mental health difficulties, and involvement in the criminal justice system.
At Bradford Children and Families Trust, we are committed to changing this narrative by reducing barriers, enhancing strengths, and increasing opportunities for care-experienced young people to succeed and thrive. We celebrate their resilience, skills, and achievements, and work to empower them through meaningful relationships, trust, and consistent support.
To support this ambition, Bradford Children and Families Trust is expanding its Care Leavers Service as part of a planned development to strengthen resources and enhance support for care-experienced young people. This includes creating a new team, increasing the number of Personal Advisors, Managers, and Practice Supervisors to ensure we deliver the highest quality support, be the best possible corporate parent we can, and provide consistent care and guidance as children and young people transition from care to independence.
Our service is built on strong foundations: a permanent and experienced management team, high levels of permanent staff, low staff turnover, and a culture of high-quality support and supervision. This stability enables us to continue to develop practice standards and provide a reflective, learning environment where staff and young people can thrive
We want young people leaving care to feel loved and cared about and to know that we have high aspirations for their future. If you believe this too, believe that you can be that caring person for young people leaving care and make a positive impact on their lives, we want to hear from you.
Ready to make a difference? Join us and help shape a brighter future for Bradford’s care leavers.
About the Role
As a Practice Supervisor, you will:
- Drive high standards of practice to help care leavers thrive.
- Support Personal Advisors and social workers through coaching, mentoring, and reflective supervision.
- Contribute to Bradford’s Care Leavers Local Offer and develop expertise in areas such as supporting separated child migrants and care leavers at risk of exploitation.
- Focus on practice development rather than holding a caseload.
- Collaborate with service managers and the Principal Social Worker to deliver training, quality assurance, and practice improvement initiatives.
- This role is ideal for experienced social workers aspiring to progress into management.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as Practice Educator and mentor for Personal Advisors, social workers, ASYEs, and students.
- Provide reflective supervision and practice observations.
- Drive quality assurance through audits and dip sampling.
- Deliver training and practice development activities.
- Co-allocate complex work and champion best practice.
- Collaborate with partners and contribute to performance oversight.
What We are Looking For
- A qualified social worker (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) registered with Social Work England.
- Completed Practice Educator Level 1 or 2 (or willingness to work towards this).
- Strong communication and teamwork skills for multi-agency collaboration.
- Up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding, policy, and practice relevant to care leavers.
- Ability to act as a consultant on complex cases and lead on challenging assessments.
- Enthusiasm, adaptability, and commitment to improving outcomes for care leavers.
- Full driving licence and access to a car (unless exempt due to disability).
Benefits
- Annual retention payment (paid monthly, reviewed annually).
- Enhanced annual leave: 31 days rising to 34 (plus bank holidays).
- Generous Local Government pension contributions.
- Competitive salary and structured pay progression.
- Flexible working and hybrid options (subject to service needs).
- Paid Social Work England registration fees.
- Comprehensive wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling.
- Enhanced parental leave policies.
- Access to Blue Light Card discounts.
- Professional development and career progression opportunities.
Want to Know More?
If you’d like more information about the role, the recruitment process, or working for Bradford Children and Families Trust, please contact:
Service Manager Jon Nevill or Cairine Doyle-MorrillJonathan.Nevill@bradfordcft.org.uk | cairine.morrill@bradfordcft.org.uk
Job Profile: see attached.
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.
The Code of Practice on the English language requirement for public sector workers, Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 requires that Councils ensure that all candidates applying for customer facing posts must be assessed in order to establish their fluency in English. The criteria under special knowledge and experience on the job profile which is shown in this advert outlines what level of fluency you will be expected to demonstrate. Therefore, it is essential that you provide examples in your application.
We are an equal opportunity employer dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone, especially underrepresented groups like disabled individuals, care experience, and minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives are important to us.
We strive to ensure our recruitment process is fully accessible. If you have a disability and need any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview stages, please contact us and we can discuss how we can support you.