Senior Social Work Practitioner SCDS

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Wellbeing support

Pension scheme

Job summary

Brighton & Hove City Council seeks a permanent Senior Social Work Practitioner for a specialist adult team. You will support the Service Manager, lead social workers, and handle high-risk cases with a focus on Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding duties.

The role requires professional social work registration, DBS clearance, and substantial experience in multidisciplinary settings, with strong leadership and partnership-building capabilities.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification and professional registration required.
• DBS check required (exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974).
• Significant experience supervising staff and managing performance in a high-pressure environment.

Responsibilities

• Day-to-day operational management of the service, including allocation of work, caseload oversight, safe staffing and service delivery.
• Line managing and supervising social workers and other practitioners, including their development, performance and wellbeing.
• Leading on complex, high-risk cases, giving expert advice, decisions 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, 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 and supporting newly qualified staff and students.

Skills

Communication skills

IT literacy

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

This permanent Senior Social Work Practitioner post sits in SCDS Pod 3, a specialist team for adults aged 25 and over with a learning disability. The post-holder supports the Service Manager in running the team day to day, leading and developing social workers and taking on complex, high-risk cases. The work covers Care Act and Mental Capacity Act duties, Section 42 safeguarding enquiries and working with housing, health and criminal justice partners. Social work qualification with professional registration, and a DBS check, are required.

What the job involves

• Day-to-day operational management of the service, including allocation of work, caseload oversight, safe staffing and service delivery
• Line managing and supervising social workers and other practitioners, including their development, performance and wellbeing
• Leading on complex, high-risk cases, giving expert advice, decisions 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, 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, coaching and supporting newly qualified staff and students

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification, or relevant AHP or nursing qualification

Registration & licences

• Professional registration (Social Work England for social workers)

Experience

• Significant experience working with adults with complex needs, including mental health, homelessness and substance use
• Experience supervising staff, managing performance and supporting professional development in a high-pressure environment
• Proven ability to manage and advise on complex cases, including risk assessment and safeguarding
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams and building effective partnerships
• Confidence managing resources, including staff and budgets

Skills & knowledge

• Strong 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

• DBS check, as the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

What's offered

• Access to ongoing professional development, including leadership, supervision and specialist training
• Supportive environment that values reflective practice, collaboration and continuous learning
• Opportunities to lead practice and shape service delivery
• Opportunities to contribute to service development and wider system change across Brighton & Hove
• Flexible working arrangements, agreed with manager
• Wellbeing support, leave and pension, detailed on the council's Why work for us pages