Senior Practitioner - East Kent Children In Care Team

Job description

Senior Practitioner - East Kent Children In Care Team

Role Responsibility

Join a Good-rated Service - Make a Lasting Difference

We have an opportunity for a Senior Practitioner to join our dynamic team in the beautiful East coast area of Kent. The offices are based in Whitstable which encompasses the City of Canterbury, the coastal and rural areas of Herne Bay and Whitstable and Thanet which covers Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and surrounding villages.

Why East Kent?

• Work in a region renowned for its stunning coastline, vibrant communities, and excellent transport links.
• Be part of a Good-rated authority (Ofsted, 2025) committed to delivering the highest standards for children and young people.
• Enjoy a supportive, collaborative environment with a strong focus on professional development and wellbeing.

About the Role

• Lead on complex cases, providing high-quality social work to children and young people from pre-birth to 18, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
• Manage a caseload that includes children subject to care proceedings to include completion of assessments and Court directed reports.
• Develop, implement, and review care and pathway plans, ensuring the best possible outcomes for children in our care.
• Work closely with multi-agency partners, including the Courts, to plan and deliver permanence for children.
• Work alongside Team Manager to mentor and support less experienced colleagues, sharing your expertise and upholding high standards of practice.

What We're Looking For

• Substantial post-qualification experience in children's social care, ideally with children in care or child protection.
• Strong leadership skills and a proven track record of delivering positive outcomes for children and families.
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, and best practice.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and supporting others to grow.

What We Offer

• Competitive starting salary plus additional market premiums.
• Flexible working arrangements and a strong emphasis on health and wellbeing.
• Access to Kent's Social Care Academy and a range of progression opportunities.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence - The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

Contact Details

For further information, please contact:

Claire Cannon - 03000410856, claire.canno@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.

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Salary

£47,990 - £53,446 per annum

Working conditions

Contract: Permanent Full Time

Working hours: 37 hours per week