Principal Social Worker

Role Responsibility

Kent County Council is looking for an outstanding individual who is committed to providing a first-class service to children, young people and their families.

As Principal Social Worker, you will lead the development and delivery of high-quality integrated children’s practice across all of Children’s Services and the wider partnership, including new service standards, practices, policies and procedures.  You will drive Quality Assurance and the Practice Framework within the children’s workforce across the County including actively engaging the voice of Social Work, Children and Families to ensure the effective delivery of services which safeguard children. 

We are looking for someone to provide strategic leadership and expert advice on children and families workforce issues within the Council across all aspects of practice. You will provide challenge and support to practitioners, managers and elected members to ensure practice is robust and high quality.  You will engage with the Senior Management Team to ensure practice remains focused on the child.   Your main emphasis will be on driving a high support, high challenge culture.

A successful applicant will have excellent frontline practice skills; sound management experience in children's social care; the ability to analyse complex information and use this to support improvement in practice; a positive communicator who can collaborate, influence, challenge with excellent verbal and written skills. We are looking for someone who is deeply committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and will go the extra mile to make this happen.

You will have substantial knowledge of the legislation and statutory responsibilities that underpin Children's Social Work Services, including appropriate performance indicators and quality standards.

Kent County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.  Appointment is dependent on satisfactory and verifiable references.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview on 28^th October or 4^th November 2022.

Contact Details

Kevin Kasaven - Interim Director of Integrated Children’s Services – East Division (Social Work Lead) - Tel: 03000 416334 

About the Company

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and faiths, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.