Senior Practitioner in Bury St Edmunds

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Suffolk County Council Address: West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU - Hybrid

Salary: £43,723 - £47,054 per annum, pro rata if part time

Hours: 37, flexible working options available

Contract: 9-month Secondment (until Sept 2026)

As a modern, flexible and effective organisation, we’re driven to make a positive difference to the environment, the communities we serve and the careers of our people. That’s why, when you join us as a Senior Practitioner, you’ll be encouraged to share your fresh thinking and empowered to explore new ideas that will shape and improve our services as well as your career. Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

• Work with a range of customers, helping them maintain or regain their independence, drawing on their strengths, networks and the local community by using Signs of Safety (SOS) model.
• Work closely with our health colleagues as part of Health and Social care integration (INT).
• Look at the best outcomes for people, championing independence with a positive approach to appropriate risk-taking.
• Work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and thrive in being part of a supportive team with a clear and shared vision.
• Carry out asset-based assessments/reviews, some of which are complex and challenging.
• Work as a role model to achieve value for money for customers, carers and the service.
• Promote a culture where individuals and communities can exercise their rights to autonomy and self-determination balancing this effectively with safeguarding responsibilities.

You will need

• To develop specialist skills and work alongside our health colleagues as well as our Occupational Therapists.
• Consider and apply prevent, reduce and delay measures when assessing and or determining the care act needs of customers we come into contact with for example: digital technology.
• To appropriately identify eligibility in line with current legislation and policy.
• To advise customers and carers concerning their rights, the options available to them and how they can be better supported in difficult circumstances.
• To implement and review Short Term Enablement Plans, identify Personal budgets and implement and review Support Plans with customers.
• To work as a Practice/Policy Champion within the team, advising team members and contributing to their development.

The team will provide professional support to members of the Flexible Care and Support Team; therefore, it is essential that you have a good knowledge of the Care Act 2014, The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and a working knowledge of the Continuing Health Care Framework too. You will support the Team Manager in line managing team members and the operational delivery of the team. You will be expected to hold a small caseload to ensure that you maintain your professional focus and skills. Furthermore, you will be familiar with undertaking casework audits when and if necessary. Flexibility in your role is essential whereby you will be expected to deputise in the absence of the Team Manager and/or respond to service needs that may require flexing your role to support a neighbourhood team when and if necessary.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Karen Hansell, Team Manager for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265032 or e-mail: Karen.Hansell@Suffolk.gov.uk.

If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.

How to apply

• Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx).
• Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.
• Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the 'Person Profile' section of the JPP. You should use the Supporting Statement template. Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.
• Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details). Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you’re invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.

Closing date: 08 February 2026, 11.30pm

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more! If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website careers.Suffolk.gov.uk.