Senior Practitioner - Social Work Academy

Luton Borough Council; Luton; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading council in the UK is seeking a passionate Senior Practitioner to join their Social Work Academy. This role involves mentoring Newly Qualified Social Workers and driving high standards in child and family social work. The council is committed to developing a diverse workforce and offers excellent benefits, including a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and flexible working options.

Benefits

25 to 32 days' annual leave

Buying annual leave scheme

Career Pathways

Pension scheme with generous employer contributions

Generous relocation package

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working options

Unlimited access to development courses

Staff offers and discounts

Friday Funday Socials

Qualifications

• Substantial post-qualifying experience in child and family social work.
• Registered with SWE.
• Natural mentor and coach experienced in practice teaching.

Responsibilities

• Support practice development of Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs).
• Promote anti-discriminatory practice.
• Make informed judgements in challenging situations.

Skills

Child and family social work

Safeguarding

Risk management

Organisational skills

Influencing and negotiating

Education

Dip SW, CQSW or equivalent

Job description

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About the job

Salary: £41,511 - £44,711 a year plus £5,000 market supplement allowance and £963 essential car user allowance (subject to criteria)
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent

Are you a passionate and experienced social work professional with a deep commitment to making a lasting difference in the lives of children and families? We're looking for someone just like you to join our Social Work Academy in Children's Services.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Practitioner who thrives on sharing knowledge, leading by example, and driving the highest standards of practice.

You'll be supporting practice development of our Newly Qualified Social Workers [NQSW}s through their assessed and supported year of employment within the Social Work Academy.

The Social Work Academy also aims to:

• Attract and develop capable, motivated, pro-active, and reflective social workers
• Support NQSW's to gain a comprehensive understanding of social work roles, responsibilities and Luton's policies and practice standards
• Support continuing professional development, to ensure sustained delivery of outstanding services to Luton's children, young people and families
• Promote evidence-based practice, informed by current research and grounded in theory
• Facilitate values-based leadership at all levels and promote a positive learning culture.

With your understanding of child development and family dynamics, you'll support other practitioners through role modelling and reflective supervision to develop confidence in making professional judgements, negotiate resources and plan interventions. This may see you making informed judgements and decisions in challenging situations. No matter the task, you'll always promote anti-discriminatory practice and empower others.

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

About you

You bring substantial post-qualifying experience, particularly in child and family social work, with a strong background in safeguarding and risk management.

You're a natural mentor and coach, experienced in practice teaching, and dedicated to supporting and developing Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs).

You lead with confidence and compassion, ensuring quality through effective co-working, challenge, guidance, and support.

Your organisational skills are top-notch, and your professional judgement is grounded in sound understanding and assessment of risk.

You build strong, respectful relationships - whether with children and families, colleagues, or external partners - and you know how to influence and negotiate effectively.

We are looking for someone with excellent knowledge of legislation, national guidance, and best practices, with an in-depth understanding of the social care needs of children and families.

We do ask that you are registered with SWE and have a relevant professional qualification, e.g.: Dip SW, CQSW.

If you're ready to step into a role where you can truly inspire, guide, and lead others - while continuing to grow yourself - we want to hear from you.

About us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough

Application process

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person's criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.

Additional information

We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:

• From 25 to 32 days' annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
• Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
• Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
• Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
• Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
• Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
• Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
• Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
• Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
• Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
• Friday Funday Socials - One Friday every 2 months where we encourage our staff to get together to socialise after work