Senior Social Work Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Portslade by Sea; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leave and pension benefits

Wellbeing support

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Brighton and Hove City Council is seeking a permanent senior practice post in the Enhanced Support Team for Adult Social Care. The role supports the Service Manager, line manages social workers and leads on complex, high‑risk safeguarding cases across multiple partner agencies.

The post requires a Social Work qualification (or a relevant AHP/Nursing) and professional registration, with extensive experience of complex cases, budget management and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification, or a relevant AHP or Nursing qualification.
• Professional registration required.
• Significant experience with adults with complex needs.
• Experience supervising staff and managing performance.
• Experience handling complex, high‑risk cases with safeguarding.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and partnerships.
• Experience managing resources including staff and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Day-to-day operational management of the service, including allocating work, overseeing caseloads, safe staffing and service delivery.
• Line managing and supervising social workers and other practitioners, including performance, development and wellbeing.
• Leading on complex, high‑risk cases with expert advice, decision‑making and oversight.
• Ensuring the team meets statutory duties under Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and safeguarding responsibilities.
• Overseeing Section 42 enquiries and risk management for people experiencing significant harm or self‑neglect.
• Managing delegated budgets, balancing individual outcomes with financial accountability.
• Monitoring team performance against KPIs and using data, audits and feedback to drive improvement.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with housing, health, criminal justice and voluntary sector organisations.
• Contributing to service development, practice improvement and a learning culture, including mentoring newly qualified staff and students.

Education

Social Work qualification, or relevant AHP/Nursing qualification

Job description

This permanent senior practice post sits in the Enhanced Support Team, which provides Adult Social Care support at Brighton and Hove City Council. The role supports the Service Manager in running the team day to day, line managing social workers and leading on complex, high-risk cases including safeguarding. It works with adults facing overlapping needs such as homelessness, mental health difficulties, substance use, domestic abuse and criminal justice contact, across several partner agencies. Professional social work registration is required.

What the job involves

• Day-to-day operational management of the service, including allocating work, overseeing caseloads, safe staffing and service delivery
• Line managing and supervising social workers and other practitioners, including their performance, development and wellbeing
• Leading on complex, high-risk cases, giving expert advice, decision-making and oversight
• Ensuring the team meets statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and safeguarding responsibilities
• Overseeing Section 42 enquiries and risk management for people experiencing significant harm or self-neglect
• Managing delegated budgets, balancing individual outcomes with financial accountability
• Monitoring team performance against key performance indicators and using data, audit and feedback to drive improvement
• Building and maintaining partnerships with housing, health, criminal justice and voluntary sector organisations
• Contributing to service development, practice improvement and a learning culture, including mentoring newly qualified staff and students

What’s required

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification, or a relevant AHP or Nursing qualification

Registration & licences

• Professional registration

Experience

• Significant experience working with adults with complex needs, including mental health, homelessness and substance use
• Supervising staff, managing performance and supporting professional development in a high-pressure environment
• Managing and advising on complex cases, including risk assessment and safeguarding
• Working within multidisciplinary teams and building effective partnerships
• Managing resources, including staff and budgets, to deliver effective services

Skills & knowledge

• Working knowledge of the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding frameworks and relevant housing legislation
• Excellent communication and IT skills, including recording, reporting and using data to improve practice
• Strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice

Checks & eligibility

• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

What’s offered

• Ongoing professional development, including leadership, supervision and specialist training
• Opportunities to lead practice and shape service delivery
• Supportive environment that values reflective practice, collaboration and continuous learning
• Opportunities to contribute to service development and wider system change
• Leave and pension benefits
• Wellbeing support
• Flexible working arrangements agreed with the manager