Family Practitioner - Children & Families
- Exeter, East Devon
- Full Time
- £30,518 - £33,699 p.a.
We are seeking a Family Practitioners for a fixed term or internal secondment for 12 months within our Children & Families Service covering Exeter & East Devon.
About the Role
Fixed term or internal secondment for 12 months (37 hours per week).
This is a Family Practitioner role, designed to provide vital operational and practice support across the Children & Families team. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting effective service delivery, helping to coordinate urgent and duty-related activity whilst working closely alongside Social Workers, Team Managers and partner agencies.
You will take a lead role in the coordination of urgent duty tasks, supporting the allocation and management of work across the team and ensuring that children and families receive a timely and responsive service. The role will include supporting Social Workers with diary management and arranging appointments, attending meetings and recording accurate notes and actions, undertaking urgent duty work, and maintaining effective communication with families and professionals.
You will also be responsible for responding to duty calls, liaising with children, families and partner agencies by telephone, supporting practitioners with joint visits where appropriate, and contributing to the ongoing assessment and planning processes for children. A sound understanding of child protection and safeguarding practice is essential, alongside the ability to work confidently within statutory frameworks and recording systems.
As part of a supportive and restorative team, you will help ensure that operational processes run smoothly, enabling Social Workers to focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families.
About You
You will be highly organised, proactive and confident in managing competing priorities within a fast-paced statutory environment. You will have excellent communication skills and be able to build positive working relationships with children, families, colleagues and partner agencies.
You will be comfortable working with complex information, making informed decisions within your role, and undertaking a variety of urgent and time-sensitive tasks. You will be computer literate and confident using case recording systems, Microsoft Office applications and other digital platforms to maintain accurate records and support service delivery.
Due to Devon's rural nature and the size of our localities, candidates should expect to travel between visits, often over long distances. For some roles, walking, cycling or public transport may not be practical, so you'll need access to your own reliable transport (subject to reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010).
Your Skills & Experience
We are looking for someone who advocates for children and young people with professionalism, compassion and a restorative approach. You will work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies, contributing to a culture of learning, reflection and continuous improvement.
Key skills and experience include:
- Experience working within Children's Social Care or a related statutory service.
- A good understanding of child protection, safeguarding and statutory social care practice.
- Experience supporting duty services, operational coordination or case management activities.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and urgent tasks.
- Experience of attending meetings and producing accurate, timely recordings and actions.
- Confidence communicating with children, families and professionals by telephone and in person.
- Ability to support practitioners with joint visits and direct work where appropriate.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent IT skills, including the use of case recording systems and Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to build effective professional relationships with children, families and colleagues.
- A valid UK driving licence and access to a car (exceptions may apply under the Equality Act 2010)
About Us
We are embarking on an exciting and ambitious journey to foster cultural change, continuously embedding restorative practices and relational approaches in our work. We firmly believe that for the majority of children, the family home is the best environment in which to thrive and grow.
We take great pride in our workforce and the positive impact we are making for children and families in Devon. Our social work teams are dedicated to delivering the best possible service, supported by an ambitious and supportive culture.
What’s in it for You?
- In return for your vital contribution, we offer an excellent range of employee benefits, including:
- Generous annual leave
- Free onsite parking
- Employee Assistance Program for support when needed, plus a variety of well-being services
- Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance, including remote work options
- Discounts at over 900 national & local retailers through our benefits platform
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
For an informal discussion about the role, contact Team Manager Emma Moore Emma.Moore@devon.gov.uk
Application Deadline: 09/08/2026. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted promptly to arrange interviews.
Please note, we may conduct interviews throughout our recruitment campaign, so we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment as we may close the advert earlier than expected.
For more information about working for Devon, please visit our Working for Devon page.
REQ010151
Interview Date: TBC
Click here to see the Job Description