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- Tasks: Join our First Response Service to support children and families in need.
- Company: Leicestershire County Council, dedicated to making a positive impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in children's services and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace celebrating diversity and offering excellent career growth.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 42600 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA
Worker Category: Field Based Worker
Salary: Grade 12 – £43,860 - £47,829 per annum (Pro rata for part time) plus market premium
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 11th January 2026
Interview Date(s): 20th January 2026
Come and be part of our Outstanding First Response Service, Assessment and Screening. It's an exciting time to be a part of Children and Family Services at Leicestershire County Council, our staff are at the heart of delivering excellent services to children and families across Leicestershire. Our recent Ofsted inspection praised Leicestershire's work to build "strong and long-lasting relationships" with children and families which lead to many families achieving "positive changes" in their lives.
About the Role
We have Senior Practitioner roles within the First Response, Assessment team. These are exciting opportunities to be part of a diverse and highly skilled team, we are looking for a passionate, dedicated, and child-focused social worker. As a Senior Practitioner within the Assessment team, you will be within 1 of 5 team PODs, consisting of a team manager, a senior practitioner and five social workers. This is predominantly an office-based role but there is scope to work flexibly which is balanced with meeting the service needs and demands.
You will be expected to produce quality assessments that are timely and proportionate to level of need. As well as support staff on complex assessments, or scenarios where greater experience is required, i.e. care proceedings. You will lead and present at development meetings, support with service performance and the learning and development of individuals as well as the team.
In Leicestershire we have a fantastic package to provide our workers. This includes the option as a full-time worker to do hybrid working, celebrating diversity with a range of events throughout the year, recognition of our staff in annual Pride in Practice events, fantastic learning and training opportunities – enabling our staff to develop and progress within their roles and committed wellbeing support.
We are proud of our continuous improvement plan – 'Achieving Excellence through Purposeful Practice' which sets out our key values, behaviours and ambitions. We have embedded the Signs of Safety approach throughout our services and this approach mirrors our values of Aspiration, Being Curious and Collaboration. We are focused on working with families and the networks of family, friends and professionals around children, to work in collaboration to achieve shared goals.
We are committed to our vision of becoming a trauma-informed responsive department where we believe we are "stronger together". Our culture is one of partnership, where we look for solutions and recognise the potential impact of trauma on the children and families we work with and on our staff. We will strive to create a safe, compassionate, healing environment demonstrated through relationships based on trust, respect, hope and empathy.
We support and empower our staff to be the best that they can be. We will give you the support and resources that you need to work in collaboration with children and families.
A DBS enhanced check for a regulated activity is required for this post.
About You
To apply for this post, you must:
- Be a qualified Social Worker holding a Social Work degree or equivalent, e.g., CQSW, DipSW (with specialism in children’s services) and be registered with Social Work England, hold a valid driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Extensive knowledge, experience and application of social work legislation, methodologies, social care policies, guidance, procedures and case reviews. This includes demonstrating your experiences with regards to complex case work and court work in private and public law.
- Demonstrate the ability and experience of supporting with the service performance and the learning and development of the team and individuals as well as a commitment to your continuous professional development.
- Understand and demonstrate experience of the importance of multi-agency working and the differing roles, responsibilities, remit and functions of other parts of the wider service and agencies.
- The ability to communicate clearly and accurately, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of people, including representatives from other agencies and court, completing reports and assessments to a high standard, thus being a model of good practice.
- Excellent demonstration of the ability to prioritise effectively, manage competing demands to meet deadlines and the flexibility to respond to changing requirements. This includes stepping in and supporting staff in the absence of the Team Manager.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability.
Interested in Flexible Working? 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.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Danielle Webster – Team Manager, First Response.
How to Apply
Leicestershire County Council is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our communities.
To apply for this job, please click on the apply button. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone. Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire.
Senior Social Work Practitioner employer: Golearnleicestershire
Contact Detail:
Golearnleicestershire Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Work Practitioner
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the team! Before your interview, do a bit of research on the First Response Service and the Assessment team. Understanding their values and recent achievements will help you connect with them during your chat.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you're in the interview, make sure to share specific examples of how you've made a difference in children's lives. We want to see that child-focused approach in action!
✨Tip Number 3
Ask questions! Prepare some thoughtful questions about the role and the team dynamics. This shows you're genuinely interested and helps us see how you might fit into our culture of collaboration.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it gives you access to all the latest updates and opportunities within Leicestershire County Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Social Work Practitioner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for social work shine through! We want to see how dedicated you are to making a difference in the lives of children and families. Share specific examples that highlight your commitment and enthusiasm.
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure your supporting statement is tailored to the role. We’re looking for evidence of how you meet the criteria listed in the job description. Use clear examples from your experience that demonstrate your skills and knowledge in social work.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your writing clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read. Avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out, so we can quickly see why you’d be a great fit for our team.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as possible. Plus, this gives you time to review and refine your application before hitting send!
How to prepare for a job interview at Golearnleicestershire
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of social work legislation and methodologies. Be ready to discuss your experience with complex casework and how you've applied your skills in real-life scenarios. This will show that you're not just familiar with the theory but can also put it into practice.
✨Showcase Your Team Spirit
As a Senior Social Work Practitioner, you'll be part of a team. Highlight your experience in multi-agency working and how you've supported your colleagues in their development. Share specific examples of how you've collaborated with others to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
✨Communicate Clearly
Effective communication is key in this role. Prepare to demonstrate your ability to convey information clearly, both verbally and in writing. Bring examples of reports or assessments you've completed, and be ready to discuss how you ensure clarity and accuracy in your communications.
✨Embrace the Values
Leicestershire County Council is all about values like aspiration, curiosity, and collaboration. Be prepared to share instances where you've embodied these values in your work. This will show that you align with their culture and are committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families.
