Senior Practitioner

Are you an experienced and motivated social work professional looking for an opportunity to further develop your leadership skills?

We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic Senior Practitioner to join our busy Adult Care Team on a temporary basis to cover maternity leave. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Social Worker who is looking to broaden their experience in practice leadership, staff support and service development.

As a Senior Practitioner, you will support the Service Manager in providing professional leadership, supervision and guidance to a team of Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners managing complex adult social care work. You will play a key role in promoting high-quality, strengths-based practice and ensuring that statutory duties are fulfilled effectively and safely.

The successful candidate will:

• Be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Have substantial post-qualifying experience within Adult Social Care.
• Demonstrate sound knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding and related legislation.
• Have experience of managing complex casework and supporting others in decision-making.
• Possess excellent communication, organisational and partnership-working skills.
• Be committed to delivering person-centred, strengths-based outcomes for adults and their carers.

In return, we offer:

• A supportive and experienced management team.
• Opportunities to develop your leadership and management skills.
• Flexible working arrangements where service needs allow.
• A varied and rewarding role within a busy and committed team.

This post is offered as a temporary fixed-term contract/secondment opportunity to cover maternity leave, anticipated to commence in November 2026 and continue until the substantive post holder returns.

Employees have access to a range of support, benefits and discounts including:

• Generous Annual Leave Scheme 27 days annual leave per year (rising to 32 days after 5 years continuous service) plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata). Grade dependant.
• Local Government Pension Scheme: Providing financial security
• Supportive management and team
• Training and Development: Opportunities for professional qualifications and ongoing training.
• Wellbeing Support Framework: Includes OH physician services, physiotherapy, CBT, and in-house counselling.
• Employee Wellbeing Support: Fast track physiotherapy, confidential psychological support services, Employee Assistance Programme, and Wisdom" app.
• Paid travel expenses if required to travel to other sites (Terms and conditions apply)
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Promoting a healthy lifestyle.
• Our Derbyshire Rewards: a package of benefits, cashback and discounts.

More details on the benefits of working for the council can be found on our reward and recognition page



Provisional Interview Date: TBC

Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values - being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.