Senior Practitioner - Children's

Job title

Senior Practitioner - Children's

Job Category

Social Care Qualified

Location

Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM176SL,Thurrock Council

Hours per week

37

Salary

£24.48 per hour

Minimum of two days per week in the office, this is mandatory and not negotiable as there has been to office presence in the MASH daily.

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional, engaging and committed individual to join Thurrock's Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) as Practice Manager. This role is ideally suited to an experienced and qualified Social Worker at Senior Practitioner level or above who is passionate about delivering high-quality safeguarding practice and improving outcomes for children and families.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to provide practice leadership within a dynamic multi-agency environment, supporting the MASH Team to assess risk, make timely and proportionate threshold decisions, and work collaboratively with partner agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Thurrock. As a Signs of Safety local authority, we are committed to strengths-based, relationship-focused practice, and the successful candidate will play a key role in embedding these principles across the service.

The Practice Manager will provide oversight and support in relation to child protection, children in need and Early Help contacts, ensuring robust decision-making, effective information sharing and timely responses for children and families. The role will also be instrumental in supporting the implementation of the Families First agenda, promoting earlier intervention, whole-family working and strong multi-agency collaboration to ensure families receive the right support at the right time.

The post holder will undertake complex risk assessments, provide practice guidance and quality assurance, deputise for the Team Manager where required, and promote compliance with relevant legislation, statutory guidance, local policies and procedures. This is an opportunity to contribute to service development, champion excellent practice and help shape the future of safeguarding and family help services within Thurrock.

About the department

Thurrock's Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people. Bringing together key partner agencies, including Children's Services, Police, Health, Education and Early Help, the MASH provides a coordinated approach to information sharing, risk assessment and decision-making to ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.

Requirements

• Be registered with Social Work England and hold a social work degree/masters

• Be at Senior Practitioner level

• Subject to an enhanced DBS

• Experience within a multi-agency/front door team

• Extensive understand of threshold and intervention

• Knowledge of universal support and Early Help Services

• Be present in the office for a minimum of two days per week

This role offers the chance to make a real difference by championing Signs of Safety practice and supporting the delivery of the Families First agenda, helping families build on their strengths and access the support they need before issues escalate.

What we're looking for

We're looking for an experienced and motivated Senior

Social Work professional who has

• Significant post-qualifying experience within Children's Social Care, including MASH and general safeguarding, child protection and Early Help.

• Excellent analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess risk, apply thresholds and make informed recommendations in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience of providing practice leadership, coaching and support to social workers and multi-agency professionals.

• A strong understanding of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures, including Working Together to Safeguard Children.

• Experience of working effectively within a multi-agency setting, building positive relationships with partner organisations and promoting effective information sharing.

• A commitment to strengths-based, relationship-focused practice and the principles of Signs of Safety.

• The ability to support and drive service improvement, including the implementation of the Families First agenda and the delivery of high-quality early intervention and family help services.

• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.

Essential Qualifications

• Social Work qualification (Degree, Masters, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).

• Registration with Social Work England.

• Evidence of continued professional development.

• Significant post-qualification experience working with children and families, including experience at Senior Practitioner level or above.

DBS Check

• Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List check required.