Senior Practitioner

Job Purpose:

Before applying for this job, it is important that you read the Applicant Guidance by clicking on this link and the Job Profile attached. These explain the job role and the type of person we're looking for.

Location: Mastrick Social Work Office, Greenfern Road, Aberdeen
Duration: Permanent, Full Time

Roles that require PVG Membership

Please note that with effect from 1 April 2023, where a role requires PVG membership, candidates will be required to meet the cost of the PVG membership. This applies only to roles with a full time equivalent salary of £30,000 and above. (Teaching roles and jobs at Grade 12 and above (currently £32,555 per annum / £16.92 per hour)

The Council will pay for the PVG membership cost initially, either £18 for existing PVG scheme members, or £59 for non-members, and this cost will be deducted from an employee’s first FULL month’s salary payment.

Job purpose/about the role

To adopt a leadership role within the team and provide mentoring, guidance, and support to the workforce. The postholder will positively influence and motivate staff, including providing advice, support, and guidance to team members, in order to meet the needs of service users and to ensure effective team functioning This will include working directly with children and families often in a role modelling capacity alongside earlier career workers. The postholder will be accountable for all work undertaken in a timely manner for children and families allocated to the team. They will effectively assess needs and plan and deliver focused interventions to safeguard children and create an environment where each service user is enabled to maximise their potential. The Senior Practitioner will ensure the progression and maintenance of permanence planning for children who cannot live within their families and to ensure that planning is highly evidenced and suited to the individual needs of the child. To ensure that family time planning is evidenced and that brothers and sisters within family groups are supported to stay together/maintain meaningful connection. The postholder will contribute to the delivery of key operational priorities and be able to meaningfully engage with staff, and multi-agency partners through clear leadership. The postholder will work closely with the Team Manager to assist in ensuring that practice and knowledge opportunities within the team are maximised and support staff to practice at an optimal level.

The post holder needs to hold as a minimum:

BA in Social Work or equivalent i.e., DipSW/CQSW or BA in Residential Childcare

3 years post qualifying experience working in a statutory setting with children and families.

PVG

SSSC registration

The postholder is able to demonstrate:

The ability to communicate effectively with children, young people and their families.

Communicate with staff and stakeholders to ensure positive outcomes.

The ability to lead and support practice change into operational practice and service delivery, including identifying training needs of staff to ensure continuous improvement.

The ability to work proactively, to participate in and show effective leadership with regard to team and service planning.

Ability to plan, manage and lead the work of other staff; effectively motivate, supervise staff, providing guidance and support including effective induction.

Ability to manage priorities and deadlines

The ability to operate as a member of a team and take responsibility for the health and the safety of staff and service users in their environment in conjunction with the Team Manager

About Us

Please see Job Profile for further details.

Aberdeen City Council is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Flexible Working

We are happy to talk flexible working and offer flexible working for most roles in the organisation meaning that many of our employees enjoy the freedom of choosing a working pattern that suits them as much as it suits the organisation.

Disability Confident

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you consider yourself to have a disability and think you may require a reasonable adjustment to be made for this part of the selection process, or would like further information in relation to reasonable adjustments, please contact AskHR@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Armed Forces

We are a forces-friendly employer, have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a silver award recipient in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We have a specific email address for those in the forces, those who have left the forces, as well as their partners / spouses / families: armedforces@aberdeencity.gov.uk. We are able to answer questions about jobs and our application / selection process, as well as about our employee support provisions.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

We have a number of guaranteed interview schemes available to applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our roles and who:

• have a disability

• are care-experienced and aged 16-29

• are aged 16-24 and live in Aberdeen City or have been to an Aberdeen City Council school and are applying for a Modern Apprenticeship (except Trades apprenticeships)

• have done a Foundation Apprenticeship with Aberdeen City Council and are applying for any apprenticeships relevant to the area in which they did their Foundation Apprenticeship

• are New Scots aged 16-24 and are applying for any apprenticeships

Further information can be found at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/jobs