Senior Practitioner, Early Intervention and Access Social Work, Almondbank House - PKC13922

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of something meaningful. It's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Early Intervention and Access Social Work Team for a full-time, permanent Senior Practitioner. Shape lives, build futures - join the Children, Families and Justice Service at Perth and Kinross Council. Guided by the values of compassion, integrity and ambition, our teams make a meaningful impact every day. Whether you're supporting children, families, or adults, you'll be part of a service that puts people first, champions rights‑based and person‑centred practice, and values relationship‑based approaches to change lives.

We offer a collaborative, inclusive environment where your voice matters, your wellbeing is supported, and your professional growth is nurtured. Be part of a council that recognises the life‑changing impact of a service that invests in early intervention, innovation and frontline excellence.

As part of Children, Families and Justice Service, the Early Intervention and Access team offer support to children, young people and families across the whole of Perth and Kinross. This post will include managing and supervising staff, chairing meetings, holding a small caseload of complex cases and other tasks delegated by the Team Leader. Roles and responsibilities include case holding and management for complex child welfare and protection cases. Also a supervisory role, managing a small team of senior social care officers and deputising in the Team Leaders absence. You will be responsible for the production of assessments, minutes and representation at multi-agency forums such as IRD's and CYPM's.

The Early Intervention and Access team is a busy social work team which covers the whole of Perth and Kinross. The team provides an initial response to child protection and welfare concerns raised by members of the public and other agencies, working closely with multi-agency partners. The team utilises a wide variety of care and support interventions and services for children, young people and families to improve their lives. This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly dedicated team, with excellent training, supervision and development opportunities provided. Benefits also include a flexible working scheme. However, due to the nature of the service, workers are normally office based. Other benefits include modern working practices, a generous annual leave entitlement and a pension scheme.

Skills & Experience Required

Applications are being invited from experienced, confident, motivated and creative Social Workers who are looking to develop their practice knowledge, skills and experience in a leadership role. We are looking for a qualified Social Worker with experience of leadership who is compassionate, patient and committed to making a positive difference in the lives of young people. You will be someone who can use initiative, can lead by example, build trust, communicate confidently and work creatively to engage staff and young people. You will be responsible to the Team Leader for Early Access and Intervention and based at Almondbank House, Lewis Place Perth, however you will be required to support young people across the whole of the Perth and Kinross area. You must have a valid UK driving licence as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in delivering our key priorities. In your application, and if invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations which demonstrate that you meet the criteria for the role and reflect our values and behaviours.

Typical Qualifications:

• Social Work Degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline
• Management qualification at SCQF level 9 or above, or willingness to work towards this
• Registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and responsibility for maintaining annual membership

Applicants must be qualified Social Workers and registered with the SSSC.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Debbie Reilly-Davidson, Operational Manager on 01738 476829 to find out more. Click “APPLY NOW” External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer. We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments.

Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process. Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check and maintain your membership. If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.