Senior Practitioner - Children's Social Work Services

Role Responsibility

Looking to develop your best practice?

We are the right team, at the right time and in the right place.

The right team
Doing the best for the children of Kent depends on a team effort. We celebrate our Senior Practitioners who work hard to foster a culture of excellence and collaboration – a place where all social workers are empowered to be creative, share ideas and advice.

And the right team needs the right managers. Ours have a well-deserved reputation for being supportive and giving regular, quality supervision. There are also many credible expert practitioners to learn from and you’ll find them approachable and keen to help. Sharing knowledge is part of who we are. Together, our teams deliver strengthened services and improved outcomes for children.

The right time
There has never been a better time to join us. We have invested in every area of our service including the careers of outstanding people who share our commitment to improving young lives in Kent.

The right place
We can offer a wide variety of work that you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. Kent is a large and diverse county, offering a broad range of opportunities to support children and young people from all backgrounds and circumstances.  You will be able to work across a range of locations and environments, and to be seconded to or move to other teams. 

Meanwhile, you will be free to develop professionally, building your area of specialist practice, and applying your knowledge to high profile and sensitive cases. At this level, you’ll champion good practice and set performance expectations, acting as a Practice Assessor for ASYE and student social workers if required.

You’ll also have the chance to share your expertise through assisted fieldwork, court attendance, case audits and reviews, and by chairing complex meetings. Through working groups and multi-agency forums, you’ll contribute to the development of new initiatives.

About you
Professionally registered with a degree in social work – CQSW, DipSW or equivalent – you’ll have a variety of post-qualification experience of working with children and families. This should cover systemic practice, and you will need an in-depth understanding of legislative and policy frameworks. We’re also looking for the willingness to develop as a practitioner.

Being a team player is essential in any social work team, and you’ll act as a role model and mentor to less experienced colleagues, contributing to training initiatives. The ability to build relationships with colleagues as well as statutory, voluntary, and private sector agencies, will be key.  

Rewards
In return, we offer an attractive benefits package, a competitive salary and a range of professional development opportunities including the exciting social care academy and routes for progression. 

We are also committed to ensuring you achieve a healthy work life balance with flexible working arrangements and an emphasis on health and well-being.

Transport
The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wide operational area including travelling around the county of Kent and beyond to transport children and their belongings and be available to do so in an emergency. You should note that public transport is rarely a viable option as your role will involve you transporting people and equipment to venues in very rural areas, often with limited public transport

Eligibility
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.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Contact Details

To find out more about the role please get in touch today by emailing:

somja.leonard@kent.gov.uk - Service Manager, Gravesham

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.