Advanced Social Work Practitioner

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

36 hour week

Holiday entitlement

Leisure discounts

Salary sacrifice

Cycle to work

LG Pension Scheme

Perkbox

Mental health support

Travel support

Trade union membership

Job summary

The London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking an experienced Advanced Social Work Practitioner to join the Preparation for Adulthood Team, supporting young people with complex needs as they transition into Adult Social Care.

You will manage a demanding caseload, provide high‑quality social work practice, and supervise and line manage less experienced staff to develop level of service and outcomes for families.

Qualifications

• Extensive social work experience, especially in Transitions and Preparation for Adulthood.
• Strong understanding of Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and statutory guidance.
• Knowledge of DoLS, EHCPs, CHC checks and associated assessments.
• Experience with working with young people with disabilities/complex health needs.
• Ability to prioritise, manage workloads and meet deadlines.
• Excellent assessment, analytical, communication and report-writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of young people with high-risk needs.
• Undertake strengths-based assessments and develop person-centred plans.
• Work autonomously and exercise professional judgement.
• Ensure statutory duties are met within timescales and targets.
• Support, supervise and line manage staff as required.
• Collaborate with health, education and community services.
• Lead on complex decision-making and contribute to service development.

Skills

Transitions to adulthood

Care Act knowledge

Assessment & planning

Autonomous working

Communication & report-writing

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Advanced Social Work Practitioner to join our Preparation for Adulthood Team. This is a key role supporting young people with complex needs as they transition from Children's Services into Adult Social Care.

The successful candidate will have significant post‑qualifying experience and demonstrate the ability to work autonomously whilst managing a complex and demanding caseload. You will be expected to provide high‑quality social work practice, deliver positive outcomes for young people and their families, and support the development of less experienced staff through supervision and line management responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload involving young people with multiple and often high-risk needs.
• Undertake strengths‑based assessments and develop person‑centred support plans.
• Work autonomously and exercise professional judgement in complex situations.
• Ensure statutory duties are met within required timescales and performance targets.
• Support, supervise and line manage staff where required.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies, including health, education and community services.
• Lead on complex decision‑making and contribute to service development.

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Extensive experience in social work practice, particularly within Transitions and Preparation for Adulthood services.
• Strong understanding of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and relevant statutory guidance.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience of:
  • Transitions from Children's to Adult Services.
  • Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Community DoLS.
  • SEND legislation and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
  • Completion of NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Checklists and supporting assessments.
  • Working in partnership with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and health colleagues.
• Experience of working with young people with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities and/or complex health needs.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands, manage workloads effectively and consistently meet deadlines.
• Excellent assessment, analytical, communication and report‑writing skills.

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work‑life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Benefits

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36‑hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non‑casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco‑friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Perkbox Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Perkbox Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24‑hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
• Trade Union Membership – The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees’ freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly. The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Pre‑employment Screening

• Enhanced DBS Check
• Qualifications Check
• Professional Registration Check
• 5 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.