Senior Practitioner Social Worker (Children's Services) - 2 Positions Available (PERMANENT & TEMPORARY, PART TIME & FULL TIME)

Vacancy Information

The salary advertised is full time (35 hours per week). Part-time hours will be pro-rated accordingly.

Hourly rate of pay: £26.09 - £29.14

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of appropriate relevant experience and qualifications and salary placed within the advertised scale.

Post 1 - Permanent Post, 17.5 Hours per Week
Days and Hours of Work:
Working 2.5 days per week between Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00
Days of working are negotiable, starting and finishing times are flexible, and flexi time is applicable.

Post 2 - Temporary for 12 months, 35 Hours per Week
Days and Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00
Days of working are negotiable, starting and finishing times are flexible, and flexi time is applicable.

You will be asked to indicate which post(s) you would like to be considered for when you complete the application form.

To start asap.

One Full-Time Senior Practitioner (35 hours) on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract
One Part-Time Senior Practitioner (17.5 hours) on a permanent contract
to join our TAC Team.

The TAC Team supports looked after and previously looked after young people as they transition towards independent living across East Lothian. We provide a specialist, needs-led service to young people with complex and multiple needs, including:
Mental health difficulties
Offending behaviour
Social isolation
Limited life opportunities

Many of the young people we support have experienced significant trauma and loss and continue to face challenges such as homelessness, unemployment, and poverty.

We are seeking a Senior Practitioner with extensive and recent post-qualifying experience delivering social work services to care-experienced young people.

The post is pivotal in:
Case managing Looked After Children and Continuing Care.
Supporting young people to move into positive destinations, their own homes and supported accommodation.
Facilitating young people’s return to their home communities, where appropriate.
Providing supervision to Family Support Workers.
Regular supervision and professional support will be provided.

Applicants must demonstrate:
Experience of working within Child Protection Guidelines.
A sound working knowledge of relevant legislation, policy, and practice in children and families social work.
A strong values-based, child-centred approach.
Excellent communication and report-writing skills.
A comprehensive understanding of the children and families social work role.

The TAC Team also work with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC). Relevant experience would be beneficial but is not essential.

East Lothian Children’s Services is committed to delivering The Promise and to providing a supportive, inclusive, and child-centred working environment where staff are valued and supported to achieve the best outcomes for young people.

Home / Hybrid Working Consideration
Applications for home or hybrid working will be considered for this post in accordance with East Lothian Council’s Home Working and Worksmart Policies which can be found here. Home or Hybrid working options can be discussed with candidates invited for interview.

Please Note:
All home/hybrid workers must live in the UK. Where an application for home-working is supported, it will be subject to a satisfactory trial period. Employees will be expected to attend Council offices for the duration of induction, and be on site in East Lothian workplaces, as required. Employees with a hybrid working arrangement in place will be office based and able to work from home, with permission, on an ad hoc basis.

Job Details

To provide an advanced level of practice that ensures appropriate services are provided to meet client needs within the department’s statutory obligations and departmental policies and procedures.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Education/Qualifications
Essential: Approved qualification in Social Work, and SSSC registration.
Those with international Social Work qualifications should not apply unless they are fully registered with the SSSC.
Desirable: Post qualifying award

Driving Licence
Full current driving licence and access to a vehicle*
(*Where a disability precludes you from obtaining a driving licence, ELC will take into account its responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to allow for your disability).

PVG Membership
This post is considered as a Regulated Role with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living out with the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form. If, for example, due to a disability, you are unable to complete the on-line application form you can contact us for a paper application via the telephone number or email address above.