Senior Practitioner

Perth & Kinross Council; Perth; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a compassionate Senior Practitioner to enhance the lives of young people with emotional and social needs. This role involves leading a dedicated team in a nurturing environment, where you will implement trauma-informed approaches and foster positive relationships. With a focus on continuous professional development, you will have the opportunity to make a real impact while enjoying a supportive work culture that values work-life balance and flexible arrangements. Join a team committed to making a difference in the community!

Benefits

Generous annual leave package

Public holidays and discretionary days

Pension scheme eligibility

Flexible working policies

Access to training and professional development

Wellbeing Framework

Flexi time

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with significant post-qualifying experience.
• Experience in statutory child care settings and supervisory roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of Senior Social Care Officers.
• Develop individual support packages for young people.

Skills

Relationship Building

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Adaptability

Understanding of Vulnerable Young People

Education

Degree in Social Work

Job description

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We Currently Have The Following Opportunity

Senior Practitioner (Fixed Term until 16 August 2026) - PKC12526

£47,864 - £51,562

Navigate, Perth

A vacancy has arisen for a Senior Practitioner to lead our team of Senior Social Care Officers (SSCOs).

Navigate is an off-site service for secondary school pupils aged 12 - 18. The service offers support to young people with social, emotional and communication needs.

Working in partnership with secondary schools and social work services, we provide individual packages of additional support, social care and education for young people who will remain on their own school roll.

We have a team of Senior Social Care Officers, Pupil Support Assistants and Pupil Support Teachers who provide individualised and wider holistic support to our young people and their families during their time at Navigate.

Navigate is based firmly on trauma-informed approaches and the development of positive relationships. We provide a nurturing and supportive environment for our young people to find out more about themselves, their learning and their futures.

As Senior Practitioner, the successful candidate will be responsible, along with the Centre Leader, for the service improvement agenda and team plans. You will be required to deputise for the Centre Leader on occasions.

Skills & Experience Required

We're looking for someone who can build excellent relationships with young people, their families, our team and other partners.

The successful candidate will be willing to get to know our young people on an individual basis, and engage in activity and learning opportunities with them. You will also contribute to further developing a sense of teamwork across the setting, and provide both informal and formal supervision for the SSCO team.

Our Senior Practitioner needs to be well-organised yet adaptable, and able to prioritise and manage competing demands. The role requires you to be assertive and clear in your communications, both oral and written.

The Senior Practitioner will have a clear understanding of the needs of vulnerable young people and families, and an ability to signpost to supports that may be available for them.

In addition, you will have a commitment to continuous professional development and in supporting the team to access opportunities to do so.

You will be a qualified Social Worker with significant post-qualifying experience. Ideally the successful candidate will have experience working in a statutory child care setting, and will have previous supervisory experience.

Degree in Social Work or equivalent as recognised by SSSC.

You must have a valid UK driving licence as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours.

Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's What We Can Offer You

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 public holidays and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree.

Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found here Hybrid working FAQs

We are committed to being a more inclusive employer - to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

This role requires you to be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Hazel Johnstone, Navigate Centre Leader by phone on 01738 477970 or by email at to find out more.

Click "APPLY NOW"

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on [phone] or to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regulated work and under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.