Practitioner - Urgent Community Response Team

Thurrock Council; Grays; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible and hybrid working

Ongoing training and professional dev.

Employee assistance programme and well

Staff discounts and local offers

Supportive and inclusive working env

Job summary

Thurrock Council, through the Urgent Community Response Team (UCRT), is seeking a Senior Practitioner to provide leadership, oversee day-to-day practice, and support complex decision-making. You will mentor colleagues and ensure high standards of care within a fast-paced, 7-day service, coordinating with health partners to deliver timely, person-centred interventions.

This role is central to reducing hospital admissions and enabling safe discharges, with emphasis on safeguarding, risk

Qualifications

• Significant experience in adult social care or a related field with safeguarding and risk management.
• Proven ability to undertake complex assessments and make defensible decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills with experience mentoring colleagues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with partner agencies.

Responsibilities

• Providing professional leadership and oversight within the Urgent Community Response Team, supporting high-quality, person-centred practice
• Undertaking complex assessments and making informed decisions to manage risk and ensure safe, timely interventions
• Coordinating and delivering rapid response support to prevent hospital admissions and facilitate safe discharges
• Supervising and supporting team members, offering guidance, mentoring, and reflective practice
• Working collaboratively with health partners and other agencies to ensure integrated and effective service delivery
• Managing a dynamic caseload, prioritising urgent needs within a fast-paced, 7-day service
• Contributing to service development, continuous improvement, and achievement of team objectives

Skills

Leadership

Complex assessments

Risk management

Communication

Mentoring

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

The Urgent Community Response Team (UCRT) provides rapid, short-term support to individuals in the community to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and support timely discharges. The service operates as part of Adult Social Care, working closely with health partners and other services to deliver coordinated, person-centred interventions. The team focuses on stabilising situations, promoting independence, and ensuring individuals receive the right support at the right time.

As part of a wider integrated system, UCRT plays a key role in reducing pressure on acute services and supporting people to remain safely in their own homes wherever possible.

This role fits within that structure as a Senior Practitioner, providing leadership in day-to-day practice, supporting complex decision-making, and ensuring high standards of care and risk management. The postholder will contribute to service delivery, mentor colleagues, and help ensure the team operates effectively within a fast-paced, responsive environment.

About the Role:

As a Senior Practitioner, you will be responsible for:

• Providing professional leadership and oversight within the Urgent Community Response Team, supporting high-quality, person-centred practice
• Undertaking complex assessments and making informed decisions to manage risk and ensure safe, timely interventions
• Coordinating and delivering rapid response support to prevent hospital admissions and facilitate safe discharges
• Supervising and supporting team members, offering guidance, mentoring, and reflective practice
• Working collaboratively with health partners and other agencies to ensure integrated and effective service delivery
• Managing a dynamic caseload, prioritising urgent needs within a fast-paced, 7-day service
• Contributing to service development, continuous improvement, and the achievement of team and organisational objectives

This role offers the chance to make a real difference by delivering timely interventions that support individuals to remain safe, independent, and well in their own homes, while reducing the need for hospital admission or long-term care.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Significant experience in adult social care or a related field, with a strong understanding of safeguarding, risk management, and person-centred practice
• Proven ability to undertake complex assessments and make sound, defensible decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills, with experience supporting, mentoring, and developing colleagues
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with individuals, families, and partner agencies
• Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary or integrated teams
• The ability to prioritise workload effectively and respond to urgent situations with confidence and professionalism
• A commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes and continuous service improvement

This position operates within a 7-day service, requiring flexible shift working, including weekends on a rota basis.

Essential Qualifications:

Relevant Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.

DBS Check:

Enhanced level with Adult Barred List is required for this post.

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment