Senior Practitioner

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Job Introduction

Milton Keynes is a rapidly expanding, vibrant and dynamic place to live, work and play. You can contribute to that continued success through a unique and rewarding career with Milton Keynes City Council.

We are in search of experienced Social Workers who are innovative and resilient, who can bring new skills and experience to the role. In Milton Keynes, a proudly diverse city, you will be in a fortunate position to make a difference in a city where 50% of our residents are under 35.

Flexible working arrangements, a smart phone, laptop, clinical supervision, training and development opportunities, generous holiday entitlement, and a market supplement are a few of the benefits when you work with us.

So if you're looking for an excellent benefits package, a fulfilling job and great work-life balance, make the move to Milton Keynes City Council.

Main Responsibility

An new opportunity has arisen to work as a Senior Practitioner for Emergency Social Work team (ESWT).

As an experienced Social Worker you will be registered with SW England with at least 4 years' experience of children's social work. You will work with the out of hours duty team working weekdays, evenings and weekends on a shift pattern.

Shifts include a combination of the following:

• Midweek - Overnight 16:30 - 09:00 (16 hours) and daytime 9:00-17:00
• Weekends and Bank holidays - 9:00-17:00, 13:00-21:00 and 21:00-9:00
• Shift Pattern (Subject to change and flexible due to annualised hours arrangements)
• Week 1 - Monday 9-5, Tuesday Overnight, Thursday 9-5, Saturday 9-5
• Week 2 - Sunday 1-9, Monday Overnight, Friday Overnight
• Week 3 - Tuesday Overnight
• Week 4 - Sunday 21:00-9:00, Wednesday Overnight

You will need to be experienced in risk assessment and able to work autonomously; liaising with other out of hours services as appropriate to ensure children and young people are safeguarded.

Experience of undertaking s47 enquiries is essential and preferably have completed achieving best evidence training. You will have experience of crisis intervention work and be confident / competent with out of hours working and ability to prioritise competing demands. Good written and communication skills are essential, as well as a proven ability to work with vulnerable children and families that are in crisis/ at risk. The post will also involve supporting family support workers in the evening and weekends. As the senior practitioner you will be responsible for supervising ESWT social workers, managing the rota, and ensuring processes and policies are up to date.

Please note overnight shifts are currently home working, however you may be required to attend the office and/or visits in the community at any time. Weekend and bank holidays are office based.

This post receives £4,000 MRS payment and a 35% Alternative Working Pattern payment

Key Duties:

• You will work with the Out of Hours duty team working weekdays, evenings and weekends on a shift pattern
• Supervise core team and sessional workers
• Arrange training and development opportunities for the team
• Update policies and procedures
• Address practice issues
• Manage the rota and annualised hours arrangements
• Support with recruitment
• Experience, Qualifications and any Mandatory Requirements
• Minimum of 4 years frontline Social Work. Social Work England Registered

Skills Required

• You will have experience of crisis intervention work and be confident / competent with out of hours working and ability to prioritise competing demands
• Good written and communication skills are essential, as well as a proven ability to work with vulnerable children and families that are in crisis/ at risk.
• Experience of supervising social workers
• For informal enquiries about the role please contact MASH Team Manager Emily Snodin

The Ideal Candidate

• Minimum of 4 years frontline Social Work. Social Work England Registered
• Experience of out of hours working Ability to work autonomously with limited management direction
• Experience of crisis intervention work
• Ability to prioritise competing demands
• Good written and communication skills
• Ability to work with vulnerable children and families that are in crisis/ at risk.
• Experience of supervising social workers

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.

• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.

• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.

• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.

• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Our roles are either designated 'site based' or 'home based'. 'Site based' roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst 'home based' roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We're very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it's time for a new role.

If you'd like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.