Senior Practitioner

Fife Council; Cowdenbeath; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government service provider in Scotland is seeking a skilled social worker to join its Children & Family Service. The role involves family assessments, direct support, and collaboration with various agencies to enhance the well-being of children and families in Fife. Applicants should hold a Diploma in Social Work and be prepared for ongoing professional development. The position offers a salary range of £45,990.00 to £55,263.09 per year, with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.

Benefits

Access to employee benefits and discounts

Opportunity for professional development

Participate in local government job fairs

Qualifications

• Educated to Diploma in Social Work.
• Must have an accredited post-qualifying award or work towards one.
• Knowledge of Child and Adult Protection guidelines is essential.

Responsibilities

• Conduct family assessments under a whole family approach.
• Develop co-produced family plans with families.
• Support families through direct 1-1 and group work.

Skills

Knowledge of Child and Adult Protection guidelines

Experience of joint working

Ability to travel throughout Fife

Education

Diploma in Social Work

Accredited post-qualifying award

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Job Description

Proposed Interview Date: Wednesday 1 October 2025

Closing Date: Sunday 21 September 2025

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: FC9 £45,990.00 - £55,263.09

Working Pattern: 36 hours per week (3 posts available)

Location: Brunton House (Cowdenbeath), Town House (Kirkcaldy) or Pitreavie Offices (Dunfermline)

Supporting Statement

As part of your application, you must provide us with a Supporting Statement which outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site. Without a Supporting Statement, your application will not be progressed. Please upload your Supporting Statement at the section marked 'upload resumé'. Your Supporting Statement must not be a CV. More information is available on our Career site at www.fife.gov.uk/jobs/supportingstatement.

Job Details

The Children & Family Service has undergone a period of redesign to ensure services offer both an early help and support function alongside core statutory services to improve outcomes for children, young people and families in Fife. Early Help and Support Teams (EH&S Teams) are based across the 7 localities in Fife, delivering a range of earlier intervention services to children in need to address wellbeing needs, concerns and emerging risks. The support will consist of a family-based assessment, direct 1-1 support, family decision making and a range of group work opportunities. The core components of the EH&S Teams are outlined below:

• Initial assessment underpinned by a whole family approach.
• Development of a family plan which is co-produced with families as part of a relational approach.
• Support in family homes/EH&S base underpinned by a family decision making model.
• Delivery of group work (e.g. Incredible Years, Mellow, Triple P).
• Pre-birth assessments and support (including caregivers using harmful substances).
• Collaborative work with primary & secondary schools through formal partnership meetings (e.g. thematic group work, partnership training etc.)
• Collaborative work with Health Visiting Teams, CLD and third sector organisations.
• Development of community initiatives based on thematic priorities.
• Connect with the Prevention & Wellbeing Service - No Wrong Door.
• Collaborate with the Safer Communities Team.
• Targeted group work support and mentoring for young people at risk of entering the justice system.
• Submit information and attend IRD meetings, complete reports and attend TAC Meetings, Children's Hearings, Initial and Review CPPMs.
• Support transition to the Enhanced Children & Family Teams based on criteria and guidance.
• Support transition back to universal or third sector services including No Wrong Door Wellbeing & Prevention service.

The Person

Educated to Diploma in Social Work. Hyperlink to the SCQF Framework: https://scqf.org.uk/the-framework/interactive-framework/.

You will have one of the following:

• An accredited post-qualifying award (e.g. Certificate in Child Protection Studies, Mental Health Officer Accreditation, Practice Teacher Award, etc.) or a commitment to work towards achieving this within 2 years of appointment.

You must have the ability to travel throughout Fife.

You will have knowledge and understanding of Child and Adult Protection guidelines and information sharing protocols and experience of joint working to achieve common goals.

Before confirming to your appointment, you will be required to obtain Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland and become a member of the relevant PVG scheme.

As this role requires SSSC registration, you will have three months to apply for registration.

If appointed, you must start your application as soon as possible so you're registered within the required six months.

If you need to achieve a qualification to maintain your SSSC membership, information will be provided if you are appointed. You must ensure you complete the qualification within the specified timeframe.

More details are included in the role profile.

Further Information

• Role Profile - When preparing your supporting statement, review the role profile and think about how you meet the essential criteria Role Profile
• How We Work Matters - Our employees are expected to display and promote certain behaviours in the workplace. See our How We Work Matters behaviour framework for more information.
• Employee Benefits - Employees have access to a benefits package that offers discounts on a wide range of products and services.
• Directorate Information - Council Department information
• Social Media - Search for more 'Fife Council Jobs' on Facebook or follow us on X @FCJobsOfficial.
• Alternative Formats - Job information can be made available in alternative formats, to make a request please e-mail [e-mail].

We are holding a Fife Council jobs fair on Wednesday 8th October from 10am - 2pm at the Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline. This is a great opportunity to meet face to face with Hiring Managers and learn more about the type of vacancies that are available and what it's like to work in local government. There will also be a chance to get support from our job clubs and employability teams who can offer help with our online application process. Please pop along on the day to find out more.

For further information please contact: Linda Sheret - [e-mail] or Nicola Stewart - [e-mail]