Connect2Kent are urgently recruiting for an experienced Senior Practitioner to work within the Children In Care Team, Sittingbourne, Kent.

* Pay Rate- £32-36 per hour, plus business mileage of 45p per mile *

ASAP Start

We are looking for candidates with a minimum of 3 years post qualifying experience, in a similar position.

Purpose of the Job:

Manage a caseload of complex and difficult cases involving assessment, planning and implementation and evaluation of appropriate action to ensure resources are utilised effectively to safeguard and promote the welfare of service users.

Contribute to raising and maintaining standards of professional work within a social work team, undertake staff supervision as directed by the Team Leader and act as a Practice Assessor for students.

The postholder should be working in line with the competency standards set out in the Competency Assessment Social Worker Career Grade Scheme.


Main duties and responsibilities:

•Manage a caseload of complex and difficult cases to a high standard to ensure resources are utilised effectively and the postholder maintains their continuous professional development in social work practice.

•Provide a high quality resources of professional social work knowledge and expertise to a team of Social Workers, to include supervision, group meetings, assisted fieldwork, attendance in court, case audits and reviews etc, to assist the team in ensuring that it carries out its core tasks to a high standard.

•Provide coaching and mentoring support to Social Workers, including those undertaking post qualifying training, to support and further their professional knowledge and development to impact upon the overall quality of practice within teams.

•Attend court, where appropriate, to assist the team in ensuring that key professional input and expertise is provided to high profile and sensitive cases.

•Undertake staff supervision as directed by the Team Leader according to the needs of the team.

•Act as Practice Assessor to support student placements.

•Liaise regularly with peer colleagues throughout the Directorate to ensure social work staff deliver existing and new practices consistently and to a high standard across the Directorate.

•Contribute to the development of new initiatives through attendance on Working Groups, multi agency forums, training courses etc and acting as lead for identified pieces of Directorate initiatives, i.e. planning for permanence and research work, to develop current and new ways of working that meet service requirements.

•Maintain awareness of changes in legislation and related policies and practices and ensure all social work staff are also informed of these changes to enable consistent and timely implementation.

A Full UK driving license and access to a vehicle is required for this position. You will also need to be registered with the HCPC.

Connect2Kent provide a full managed service provision to Kent County Council, across all sectors for their temporary/contract recruitment needs.

* If you are interested in this or any positions we have available, please contact Scott Armstrong on 01622 236678 or email your CV directly to scott.armstrong@connect2kent.co.uk*


Closing date Midday Wednesday 24th December 2014