Lead Practitioner - ASC First Contact Team

Sefton Council; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in the United Kingdom is seeking a Lead Practitioner to lead and support a dedicated team of social workers. The role focuses on practice leadership, professional oversight and developing integrated, person-centred approaches with health, education and partner agencies to deliver high-quality assessments and care plans.

You will influence how services are delivered, have autonomy with managerial support, contribute to service development, and uphold

Responsibilities

• Support and guide a dedicated team of social workers
• Provide practice leadership and professional oversight
• Work closely with health, Education, and partner agencies to develop integrated, person‑centred approaches
• Play a key role in shaping how services are delivered and improved
• Have the autonomy to make meaningful, practice‑led decisions, alongside strong managerial support
• Contribute creatively to service development while maintaining high standards of safeguarding and quality

Job description

• Employer: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full Time
• Hours: 36 hours per week.
• Closing Date: 22/11/2026 at 23:59
• Reference: ASC/26/349629

About the Role

As Lead Practitioner, you will:

• Support and guide a dedicated team of social workers
• Provide practice leadership and professional oversight
• Work closely with health, Education, and partner agencies to develop integrated, person‑centred approaches
• Play a key role in shaping how services are delivered and improved
• Have the autonomy to make meaningful, practice‑led decisions, alongside strong managerial support
• Contribute creatively to service development while maintaining high standards of safeguarding and quality

To develop and lead a social workers in defined areas of work in order to deliver high-quality assessments that address the needs of vulnerable people through the commissioning of individual support plans and packages of care that lead to improved outcomes, whilst managing the reputation of the Council.

To ensure that the service responds to new challenges, priorities and requirements, whilst maintaining the Council’s statutory obligations and using resources in the most effective manner.

To support Team managers and Service Managers in delivering strategic outcomes.

This role suits someone who is passionate and committed to maintaining high standards, and confident working both independently and collaboratively to support a skilled and safe workforce.

Please see Appendix A (page 10) for a full copy of the Job Description and Person Specification.

The closing date for this vacancy is 22.11.26.

Provisional interview dates are 30.11.26.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. A diverse workforce is important to us, our staff bring with them a wide range of experiences, views, ideas, and innovations, and we are committed to providing an environment that recognises, respects, and values everybody’s identity, where individual differences are strengths and where everyone can thrive and maximise their potential.We are always open to learning and growing as an organisation, and we welcome new ideas and initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role.

Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.

If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.

Sefton Council values authentic applications that reflect your own experiences, skills and motivations and that sound like you.

AI tools can be used to support your application, such as helping you structure your answers or as a reasonable adjustment. However, your application should remain your own work and accurately represent your own experience and abilities.