Overview
In this Senior Practitioner role, you will manage a complex caseload within Family Support & Protection, providing expert supervision and coaching to colleagues. You will deputise for the Team Manager, leading duties and ensuring high-quality social work practice. You help safeguard children and promote welfare through expert assessments, plan delivery, and cross-agency collaboration. The position supports a mission to improve outcomes for children, young people and families, within a culture of integrity and compassion. This role offers leadership impact in a dynamic local authority with flexible working options.
Pay / Benefits
- flexible working arrangements
- support for unpaid carers
- Disability Confident Leader
- opportunities for career development
Responsibilities
- Provide expert guidance and professional supervision to social workers
- Assess complex social care needs and develop support plans
- Ensure compliance with statutory frameworks, policies and guidelines
- Manage a complex caseload with accurate data, reports, and presentations
- Lead in critical situations: case conferences, court attendances, statutory reviews
- Safeguard and promote welfare through interventions
- Build relationships across the Council, partners and voluntary agencies
- Deliver high-level expertise in specific practice areas and develop practices
- Achieve annual targets within the performance management framework
Key requirements
- Social work qualification (Diploma/Degree/Master’s in Social Work) with current SWE registration
- Evidence of continuing professional development aligned to professional frameworks
- Significant social work experience with up-to-date knowledge of legislation and guidance
- Experience mentoring social workers and students, and acting as a subject matter expert
- Experience chairing meetings involving clients, families, carers, and multi-agency professionals
- Strong relationship-building with partners and community
- Understanding of value-for-money interventions balanced against need
- Clear decision-making with risk awareness
- leadership
- communication
- collaboration
- case management
- case conferences and court proceedings
- risk assessment and safeguarding
Senior Practitioner - Family Support & Protection, North Essex in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and flexible work environment for Social Workers dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young people with disabilities. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, innovative practices, and professional development, our team enjoys a nine-day working fortnight and numerous opportunities for growth within a dynamic local authority. Join us in Chelmsford, where your contributions will be valued, and together we can empower the next generation to thrive.
