At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and support social work teams to deliver outstanding outcomes for children and families.
- Company: Join the Royal Borough of Greenwich, a leader in social care reform.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a chance to shape innovative services.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities across various service areas.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your leadership career.
- Qualifications: Experienced social workers with a passion for leadership and service improvement.
The predicted salary is between 54267 - 57402 £ per year.
As part of our ambitious Families First Social Care Reform Programme, we are recruiting Practice Leaders to join several of our newly developed services, including Family Help and Disabled Children & Young People’s Services. This is an exciting opportunity for experienced social workers looking to take the next step in their leadership journey, helping to shape innovative services that deliver outstanding outcomes for children, young people and families.
As a Practice Leader, you will work alongside Team Leaders to provide strong practice leadership, management oversight and support to frontline staff. You will play a key role in ensuring high-quality practice, driving service improvement and creating a culture of learning, reflection and continuous development. You will combine leadership responsibilities providing supervision, guidance and support to colleagues while maintaining direct involvement with children and families.
What You’ll Do
- Support the Team Leader in the day-to-day management of the service.
- Provide supervision, coaching and line management for up to three staff members.
- Deliver robust case oversight to ensure timely, proportionate and effective interventions.
- Lead on quality assurance activities including audits, case reviews and performance monitoring.
- Drive service improvement initiatives and embed best practice across the team.
- Chair multi-agency meetings and support effective partnership working.
- Promote positive outcomes, permanence planning and high-quality practice for children and young people.
- Help develop a motivated, skilled and confident workforce.
About You
We’re looking for experienced and passionate social work professionals who:
- Have substantial post-qualifying experience working with children and families.
- Are confident in providing practice leadership, supervision and management oversight.
- Have a strong understanding of safeguarding, statutory responsibilities and partnership working.
- Are committed to developing others and promoting excellent social work practice.
- Can inspire, motivate and support teams to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
Opportunities Across Our Services
Vacancies are available across a number of service areas, including Family Help and Disabled Children & Young People’s Services. Applicants are welcome to express an interest in a specific service area as part of their application.
Why Join Us?
This is a unique opportunity to be part of a period of transformation and innovation, helping to shape the future of children’s services through the Families First reforms. If you’re ready to combine your social work expertise with leadership and service development, we’d love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Karen Scholtz (Family Help) at Karen.Scholtz@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or Alex Lee Daniels (Disabled Children and Young People Service) at Alexander.Lee-Daniels@royalgreenwich.gov.uk.
Diversity Statement: Royal Borough of Greenwich values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.
Advert Close: All vacancies close at midnight unless otherwise stated. Early Advert Close: Royal Borough of Greenwich reserves the right to close any job advert earlier than the advertised closing date where there is reason to do so (for example high volume of applications).
Full Employment History: A full employment history is required for this role. Please provide a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment.
Salary: Salaries advertised are for a standard working week of 35 hours unless otherwise stated. Please use this ‘Salary Calculator’ to help you calculate a pro rata salary.
Our Staff Values: Our Staff Values are important to us. Candidates will be continuously assessed against our staff values throughout the recruitment process. Where candidates demonstrate views and behaviours that do not meet the standards of our staff values, we reserve the right to reject their application/registration.
Practice Leader employer: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
North Yorkshire Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. As a Strategic Occupational Health Partner, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on workforce health while benefiting from ongoing development opportunities in a collaborative environment dedicated to public health.
Contact Details:
Kirklees Metropolitan Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Practice Leader
✨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 Kirklees Metropolitan Council.
✨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 Kirklees Metropolitan Council!
✨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 Kirklees Metropolitan Council, 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 Kirklees Metropolitan Council 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 Practice Leader
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 Kirklees Metropolitan Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Kirklees Metropolitan Council! 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 Kirklees Metropolitan Council
✨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.
