Contract Details
Contract Type: Fixed term contract (until August 2027)
Contract Reason: Vacancy cover
Secondment Opportunity: Permanent employees are encouraged to apply and will be supported as part of our workforce development
Salary: Grade I. Scale 35 - £23,711 to Scale 39 - £25,832 with a professional bar at Scale 37 - £24,782
Hours Per Week: 18.5 (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)
Base Location: Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-under‑Lyne, OL6 6BH
Assessment Date: Week commencing 10th August 2026
Role
Senior Practitioner (Social Work Qualified) to support children, young people and their families in our front door arrangements.
Responsibilities
- Provide high quality support and respond to families’ individual needs.
- Support families to develop solutions to their needs.
- Offer advice, support and guidance to practitioners within the Front Door and others, contributing to a consistently high standard of practice across services.
- Take into account the views of children, young people, families and partners to continually improve service delivery.
- Facilitate workshops and group supervisions to support decision making, provide opportunities for reflection and ensure appropriate plans are in place to meet families’ individual needs effectively, enabling families to make positive and sustained changes.
- Attend and chair a range of multi‑agency meetings to share important information and contribute to decisions that support the individual needs of children, young people and families.
- Contribute to the leadership of the service through mentoring, coaching and practice development to support practitioners and achieve positive outcomes for children, young people and families.
Qualifications and Experience
- Passionate and motivated to achieve best outcomes for children, young people and their families.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle sensitive information.
- Substantial post‑qualified experience within children’s social care services.
- Excellent communication skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
- Knowledge of safeguarding principles and relevant legislation (Children Act, Working Together to Safeguard Children).
- IT literate with experience using case management systems and Microsoft Office.
- Relevant professional qualification for the role at Level 6 or above, and minimum of 2 years post‑qualification experience.
- Maintained membership of a regulated body where required to practice in the role.
- Professional standards practised to the highest expected level.
If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the application.
Professional Development
This post is classified as being in a professional job category. As such the grade for the job has a professional grade development bar which employees can progress through subject to meeting the following criteria:
- Relevant professional qualification for the job role at Level 6 or above, AND
- Minimum of 2 years post‑qualification experience in the role, AND
- Maintained membership of a regulated body where this is a requirement to practice in the role where applicable, AND
- Professional standards practised to the highest expected level.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.
We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.
This position is subject to Enhanced with Barred List Disclosure Procedures.
Benefits and Rewards
Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here.
We have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers, carers, and ex‑military personnel. Please click here for more information on our guaranteed assessment scheme.
Contact
For further information about this role please contact the recruiting manager Cath Mowll at 0161 342 2993 or cath.mowll@tameside.gov.uk.
Senior Practitioner (MASH) employer: Tameside Council
Tameside Council is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where finance professionals can thrive and make a significant impact on the community. With a strong focus on employee development and a commitment to sustainable financial strategies, staff are encouraged to grow their skills while contributing to ambitious regeneration plans. The collaborative culture fosters innovation and provides exceptional visibility in decision-making, making it a rewarding place to work for those looking to lead in the public sector.
