Senior Practitioner

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Job description
Full Time, PermanentThis is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Practitioner to be part of our new front door service as we embed our new model of service delivery. The Advice, Information and Assessment Service is a multi-disciplinary citywide service offering the people of Bristol a strengths-based approach to their support needs.

As a Senior Practitioner in the service, you will be an important part of the leadership team, working alongside the Senior occupational Therapists and supporting the Team Manager.

You play a critical role within a fast paced, multidisciplinary Front Door service, providing timely, strengths based clinical expertise at the first point of contact for adults seeking support. If successful, you will lead on complex assessments, promote early intervention and prevention, and ensure that individuals receive proportionate, outcome focused responses that maximise independence, safety, and wellbeing.

This role blends expert Social Work practice with leadership responsibilities, supporting the professional development of others, modelling best practice, and contributing to service improvement within an integrated health and social care environment.

Clinical Social Work Practice

Offer professional triage and screening to support effective decision-making within the Advice, Information and Assessment Service.
Recommend and implement evidence-based interventions that reduce risk, enable independence, and prevent escalation of need.
Lead on complex mental capacity assessments and best interest assessments and risk management plans.

Work collaboratively with service users, carers, and families to develop co-produced support plans.

Multi-Disciplinary Working

Work closely with social workers, occupational therapists, unregistered practitioners, and partner organisations to deliver integrated, holistic support.

Provide expert social work input into multidisciplinary decision-making forums, panels, and case discussions.

Promoting an understanding of Social Work as a specialism within the Advice, Information and Assessment Service, and working towards greater integrated practise.

Build strong relationships with external partners including health services, housing, and voluntary sector organisations within the community.

Manage our duty desk on a rotational basis - triaging referrals to enable a proportionate response based on risk, urgency and need.

Professional Leadership

Supervise, and support Social Workers, Social Care Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, and Occupational Therapy assistants, within the Advice, Information and Assessment Service.

Work within the statutory structure of the Care Act 2014 and other relevant legislation, supporting practitioners to undertake high quality Care Act Assessments, Carer assessments, S42 Enquiry planning, Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest Assessments.

Work closely with internal and external agencies and departments across all Adult Social Care.

Have a strong passion for Equalities and Inclusion to ensure people who draw on care and support are strengthened from their individuality.

Travel across the City either from home or from City Hall where the service is based. Currently, working from home is permitted but you would be expected to work from the office a minimum of 2 days per week.

Please note that this role is also subject to a Enhanced DBS Check.Why Bristol City Council?Vision for Adult Social Care

"We are proud of our vibrant and diverse city.

Our Vision is that all of us will have the support we need to live in a place that we call home, with the people and things that we love, in communities where we all look out for one another, doing the things that matter to us."

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For many of our role's hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you'll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you'll be working in a supportive environment where you'll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you'll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.Want to know more?

For further information please contact: Claire Wanless, Team Manager - claire.wanless@bristol.gov.uk

Interviews will be held week Commencing 4th May 2026

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Young people , Black and racially minoritised and Male candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you'll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.