Senior Practitioner

LOCATION:
Community Connect Rattray High Street Rattray Blairgowrie, PH10 7DG

SALARY:
£46,193 - £49,779 per year

CONTRACT TYPE:
Permanent

POSITION TYPE:
Full Time

HOURS:
36 hours per week

£43, 566 - £ 46, 944
Blairgowrie Fieldwork Children and Families Team, Community Connect, High Street, Rattray

An opportunity has arisen for a full-time, permanent Senior Practitioner within the Blairgowrie Children and Families Team. Core working hours are 08:45 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

Previous supervisory experience would be helpful as the role involves formally supervising Senior Social Care Officers as well as providing a high level of support and guidance to Social Workers. Previous experience of chairing complex multi-agency meetings would also be helpful, as this is an important part of the Senior Practitioner role.

Key duties are noted below:

- Undertake assessments of need and risk and take a lead role in the implementation of plans to deliver care, protection and support to children, young people and their families, and promote their wellbeing in the community.
- Work collaboratively with partner agencies to build the capacity of people using services.
- Make assessments in relation to child protection referrals, carry out investigations and make recommendations related to child protection procedures.
- Assess and make recommendations about whether compulsory measures of supervision are necessary.
- Assess and make recommendations about whether a child should be accommodated away from home.
- Assess and make recommendations for children who may require permanent alternative family care.
- Provide the social work contribution to any review of the needs of children and young people, including recommendations on behalf of the Council to Children’s Hearings and Courts.
- Plan rehabilitation and provide support to looked after and accommodated children.
- Provide written reports and records as required.
- Deputise for the Team Leader in his/her absence.
- Provide support, guidance and formal supervision to the Senior Social Care Officers in the team.
- Provide a high level of support and guidance to the Social Workers in the team.
- Chair multi-agency meetings, including Child’s Plan meetings and Child Protection Core Groups.

**Requirements**:
Essential:

- A degree in Social work or equivalent as recognised by the SSSC.
- Significant post-qualifying experience in a statutory Social Work setting.
- Post qualifying certificate in Child Protection, or a willingness to work towards this.
Knowledge of child-care law and policy.
- An ability to undertake collaborative work with other disciplines.
- An ability to work within professional boundaries.
- An ability to work well as a member of a team.
- Ability to undertake ‘risk assessment‘ of activities.
- Ability to analyse information and draw out recommendations.
- Ability to work towards resolving problems independently.
- Understanding of when to refer problems to the appropriate person.
- An ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.
- Registration with the SSSC.
- A full UK Driving Licence and use of a vehicle.

Desirable:

- Considerable post-qualifying experience in a statutory children and families setting.
- Post-qualifying certificate in Child Protection.
- Previous supervisory or mentoring experience. Experience of chairing multi-agency meetings.

**Responsibilities**:
**Responsibilities**:

- Take account of service users’ views in all aspects of work.
- Practice in line with the Council’s Equalities Policies.
- Take responsibility for any pieces of work delegated to others in their absence.
- Take responsibility for monitoring and improving your knowledge and skills, and undertake professional development as identified.
- Awareness of the need for safe lone working practice.
- Promote Equality & Dignity at Work.
- Commitment to treat customers/clients & colleagues in accordance with Council’s policies on equalities and dignity at work.
- Maintain electronic records in line with Children and Families Services guidance.
- Achievement of Results.
- Meet required timescales in respect of reports, assessments etc.
- Maintain and promote high standards of Social Work practice.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement of the service and your individual role within this.
- Work as part of a team and contribute to the effective operation of the team.
- Work in an integrated way with partner agencies.

**The Individual**:
Please APPLY ONLINE. Facilities are available at all public libraries in Perth and Kinross. If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments, please call 01738 475555 to discuss.

As part of our safer recruitment measures, Perth & Kinross Council carries out rigorous checks on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, employment history, including references, and fitness to undertake the post.

A healthy work life balance is important to Perth & Kinross Coun