Senior Practitioner - Urgent Community Response Team

Thurrock Council; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

LGPS

Hybrid working

Training & development

Wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Inclusive environment

Job summary

Thurrock Council is recruiting a Senior Practitioner for the Urgent Community Response Team (UCRT). You will lead professional practice, oversee complex assessments, and coordinate rapid support to prevent hospital admissions and support safe discharges.

The role requires strong safeguarding, risk management, and collaboration with health partners. A social work qualification with registration is essential, and Enhanced DBS is required.

Qualifications

• Relevant Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
• Enhanced DBS check with Adult Barred List is required for this post.

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 the achievement of team and organisational objectives

Job description

Senior Practitioner - Urgent Community Response Team (UCRT)

Salary: £47,130- £53,757 per annum (pro rata if part‑time) + 7.5% Shift Allowance

Grade: F

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

About the Department

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

• 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.

What We're Looking For

• 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

• 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

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 30th July 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 27th September 2026

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Trudy Marfo‑Amponsah - Service Manager
Phone Number: 01375 652850

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

Application Requirements

As part of the Safer Recruitment process, Gap Management from when leaving full‑time education is required for all Safeguarding roles. Please complete the Gaps in Employment grid provided (refer to the example document for guidance) and upload it under Miscellaneous Documents as part of your application. Please provide a full history with explanations of any gaps and ensure you also upload a copy of your full CV.

If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.

About Us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council