Practice Specialist (Experienced Social Worker)

Guardian Jobs; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 1 055 000 - 1 125 000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable organization is seeking a Practice Specialist to manage the implementation of a social work training program across partner organizations. The ideal candidate will be an experienced social worker with a background in mental health and a proven track record in developing social workers. The position offers excellent benefits, including generous annual leave and a matched pension scheme, along with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Enhanced family-friendly leave

Matched pension scheme

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience supporting social workers and developing their skills.
• Proven ability to engage with partner organizations effectively.
• Strong background in social work with a focus on mental health.

Responsibilities

• Manage implementation of the programme across host organisations.
• Support development of candidates through coaching and training.
• Establish relationships with key contacts in partner trusts.

Skills

Experience in mental health

Coaching and mentoring

Relationship management

Training delivery

Education

Qualified social worker

Practice educator certification

Job description

Practice Specialist (experienced Social Worker)

• Salary: £46,920 or £49,980 (London based)
• Contract: 6 to 9-month fixed term contract
• Working pattern: Full time, 37.5 hours a week
• Location: Hybrid/homeworking
• Due to travel across London and South East, you will be based in London or Southeast. You’ll be expected to attend our London office, in Chancery Lane/Farringdon or London venue at least 2 days a month, with flexibility.
• Closing date: 5 pm, Monday 1st December 2025
• Interview dates: 10th and 12th December 2025

We are looking for a dynamic and highly motivated professional to join our Practice Specialist team, working within our Programme team.

Practice Specialists play a crucial role in preparing Think Ahead participants to become outstanding social workers. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social worker to maintain links with frontline practice and practice education, with development opportunities for teaching delivery, and coaching and mentoring others. Each Practice Specialist will have responsibility for a number of Think Ahead units (groups of 4-6 participants based in the same organisation), ensuring that participants receive an outstanding practice learning experience, and that there is effective delivery of our innovative curriculum in the practice environment provided by the NHS Trusts and Local Authorities that we partner with.

As Practice Specialist You Will

• Manage the implementation of the programme across host organisations ensuring quality placements and that the academic and practice components are brought together effectively. This will include visiting units of participants on placement, and virtually unit meetings.
• Support development of CSW’s through regular coaching, supervision and training.
• Establish strong relationships with all relevant key contacts across our partner NHS trust and local authorities, holding regular meetings to quality assure the programme and develop our partnerships.
• Provide specialist professional social work expertise to the Think Ahead team bringing experience and knowledge of frontline practice.

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will be an experienced social worker and practice educator, that has experience of working within mental health and has a proven record of accomplishment of developing and supporting social workers. We are also looking for someone with experience and confidence in delivering training and is willing and motivated to get involved in this evolving area of the charity.

What We Can Offer You

We offer excellent employee benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement (28 days) plus additional office closure over Christmas, enhanced family-friendly leave, flexible working around our core hours of 10am to 4pm, a matched pension scheme with up to 7% employer contributions, an employee assistance programme and more.

How To Apply

Download the candidate pack from our website.

Please provide a CV and a supporting statement (max 2 pages) outlining your fit for the role based on the person specification in the candidate pack and email these to us, together with the completed Equality and Diversity questionnaire.

We will use both the CV and the supporting statement to enable us to shortlist for interview. Unfortunately, we will not be able to consider any applications that do not address how the candidate meets the person specification in the supporting statement.