At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support social work teams to improve the wellbeing of children and families.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, retention bonus, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to support work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the community while advancing your social work career.
- Qualifications: Degree in social work and at least 3 years of experience required.
The predicted salary is between 49056 - 55323 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: £49,056 – £55,323 dependent on experience
Grade: PO4 - PO5
Retention Bonus: Up to £3000 (terms & conditions apply)
Contract Type: Permanent
Number of Posts: x 1
Working hours per week: Full Time
Application Deadline: 02/08/2026
Proposed Interview Dates: TBC
Reference: 2174
About Us: Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a welcoming and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have tight-knit and diverse communities. Our work is always resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded: we’re a borough focused on meeting and exceeding the needs of our existing and future residents.
London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace wellbeing, skills, progression and diversity.
The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.
About the Senior Practitioner role: The Senior Practitioner will be an experienced social worker playing a key role within teams to support high-quality service delivery. You will be supporting the Team Manager and colleagues, as well as working with families to assess their needs, determine an appropriate support plan and care package, and ensure the plan’s implementation. They will have a caseload including complex work, will provide quality assurance, and will help the team manager to coach less experienced colleagues. They will have opportunities to directly influence and promote the training and development of social workers and social work students in the department.
Key Responsibilities:
- To undertake assessments, determine care packages/support plans and manage a range of the most complex caseloads to maintain or improve the wellbeing of children and young people.
- To provide leadership and professional guidance to colleagues.
- Develop, train, and track the development of less experienced social workers.
- Supervise less experienced social workers and practitioners to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
- Lead on complex cases and key meetings, including case reviews and core group meetings.
- Collect and analyse information and present your findings at strategic meetings.
- To manage team duty rotas and reflective group supervisions.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Have completed a degree, apprenticeship or graduate training scheme in social work.
- Be registered with Social Work England.
- Ideally have at least 3 years’ experience as a qualified child and family Social Worker.
How to Apply: Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy.
Terms and conditions: The below terms and conditions apply to this role:
- Retention Bonus.
- Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks.
- Satisfactory declaration of interest.
- This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/or vulnerable adults.
- Satisfactory DBS check; Enhanced.
- Continued professional body registration.
As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English. This means that they must have a command of spoken English, with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its four equality objectives: promoting equality of opportunity; opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage; ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels; providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent services to all. Respecting diversity is a core Council value.
To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the Council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The Council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme.
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
Contact Information: If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Nadia Begum, our Head of Service - Head of Service Assessment at rongful.begum@walthamforest.gov.uk. If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.
Senior Practitioner in Walthamstow employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
The Borough of Waltham Forest is an excellent employer that prioritises a supportive and inclusive work culture, making it an ideal place for HR professionals to thrive. With a strong commitment to employee development and a focus on equality and diversity, the council offers meaningful opportunities for growth and advancement in the field of human resources. Working here means being part of a dedicated team that values collaboration and strives to create a positive impact within the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioner in Walthamstow
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Borough of Waltham Forest.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Borough of Waltham Forest!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Borough of Waltham Forest, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Borough of Waltham Forest or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Practitioner in Walthamstow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Borough of Waltham Forest:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Borough of Waltham Forest! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Waltham Forest
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
