Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Grade I. Scale 35 - £44,711 to Scale 39 - £48,710 with a professional bar at Scale 37 - £46,731**
Hours Per Week: 36 (including flexible working opportunities)
Base Location: Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6 6BH
Assessment Date: To be arranged
The Role
Tameside Children’s Services have an exciting opportunity for Senior Practitioners in both our Duty and Assessment Team as well as Safeguarding and Support Team, ideal for experienced social workers who are looking to take the next step in their career. This role offers the chance to not only shape the lives of Tameside children, but also to shape the future of your profession by developing the next generation of social work professionals.
We are in our improvement journey which includes launch of brand-new Social Work Academy, to offer high quality training and development opportunities for our social workers while also increasing the quality of support that is offered to our families in Tameside.
If you’d like to help us achieve our ambition and join us on this journey, then we’d like to hear from you.
As a Senior Practitioner you will:
* Get a chance to pass on your skills and experience to less experienced team members
* Under the direction of the team manager, support colleagues in their professional development and progression
* Provide guidance, coaching and mentoring to our ASYE and student social workers, nurturing their professional growth and confidence
* Hold a small caseload of complex cases
* Play a key role in providing opportunities for group supervision and reflective learning opportunity through co-working and sharing of best practice examples
We have adopted a trauma informed strength and relationship based approach as our practice framework. The principles of which sit behind this approach are conversation, curiosity, consideration, courage and collaboration.
You will receive regular supervision and work in a supportive culture where we are ambitious about delivering effective social work practice and supporting you to be the very best you can be.
We actively listen to our staff in a variety of ways through having regular team meetings, employee engagement sessions and staff surveys.
Our comprehensive workforce development programme provides many opportunities to help you grow and develop your career. The peer support you will also receive is second to none.
When completing your application please indicate your preference for either Duty and Assessment Team or Safeguarding and Support Team within your application form.
About You
This role would suit a compassionate social worker with a passion for guiding and supporting others, whilst continuing to make a difference in the lives of children.
We are looking for experienced social workers with great communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to positively influence others.
About Us
Message from Jill Colbert, Director of Children’s Services
“I joined the council at the beginning of 2025 and was instantly charmed by the warmth, openness, and energy of colleagues.
“I came to Tameside for one reason; because I know we can do fantastic things for our families here.
“We’re a children’s service on a significant improvement journey. We know what needs to be different for our children and families and we’re ambitious to deliver that change.
“We have a growing range of specialist services for children, where you can test and grow your skills and practice. We have a Social Work Academy that is led by people who bring passion to learning and who know that the DCS’ of the future are right in front of them. We are working on our progression pathways so that staying in Tameside is rewarded and recognised. We have investment in innovation and improvement from the council so that we can grow services and support for families that we can sustain, from family hubs through to complex safeguarding.
“I am so certain that we can build a proud, inclusive and safe climate for great practice to flourish in Tameside. I’d love you to join me on the journey here at Team Tameside.”
At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our Citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self-sufficient communities.
We recognise that our people drive our success and enable the organisation to deliver on its vision, purpose and priorities, and that our people are our most important resource and asset. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours, and are at the heart of everything that we do; and we understand that how we do things is just as important as what we do. We pride ourselves on living by our STRIVE values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours and are at the heart of everything that we do. How we do things are just as important as what we do.
Our employees’ skills, experience and knowledge are essential to our success along with their happiness, wellbeing, commitment, enthusiasm and motivation to be the best they can be.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to Enhanced with Barred List Disclosure Procedures.
** This post is classified as being in a professional job category. As such the grade for the job has a professional grade development bar which employees can progress through subject to meeting the following criteria:
1. Relevant professional qualification for the job role at Level 6 or above, AND
2. Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in the role, AND
3. Maintained membership of a regulated body where this is a requirement to practice in the role where applicable, AND
4. Professional standards practised to the highest expected level.
This post is a designated customer facing role under the fluency duty and requires a specified level of spoken English in the person specification.
Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.
We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria.
Our rewards and benefits package can be viewed here
For further information about this role please contact the recruiting manager on 0161 342 4366 or daniel.murphy@tameside.gov.uk
Reference Number: 846