Senior Practitioner Social Worker (Children's Services) - EAL12947

Vacancy Information

Hourly rate of pay: £26.09 - £29.14
Candidates will be assessed on the basis of appropriate relevant experience and qualifications and salary placed within the advertised scale.

Days and Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00
Days of working are negotiable, starting and finishing times are flexible, and flexi time is applicable.
To start 28th September 2026.

East Lothian Children’s Services have an exciting opportunity on a full-time permanent basis, for a Senior Practitioner to join one of the Support and Intervention social work teams. The team consists of a team leader, three senior practitioners and two social workers with a Family Support Team available to support all Support and Intervention Teams. There is dedicated administrative support. All of Children’s Services is located in John Muir House, Haddington with onsite parking and we promote an open, trusting and communicative culture at all levels of the organisation.

Applicants should have a sound value base, excellent communication and report writing skills and a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of children and families social work role and responsibilities. Candidates should work well under pressure and be able to manage competing demands. We are particularly keen to receive applicants from social workers with experience in Signs of safety and Safe and Together.

East Lothian Children’s Services are keen to recruit workers who are passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for children, young people and their families. We are committed to promoting a learning culture at all levels of the organisation. Our staff are our greatest asset and we strive to be supportive, inclusive and child centred by prioritising effective supervision, manageable caseloads and a healthy work life balance. Our vision is to support children and young people to live and learn in East Lothian and our staff are involved in developing services and implementing improvement activity around this goal. We have an accessible, on site senior management team who are committed to recruiting the best people to compliment the wide range of knowledge and experience that exists throughout the service.

If you wish to discuss this job vacancy or working for East Lothian Council, please feel free to contact the recruitment manager on the details below:

Morag Brown - 07929 836272

Job Details

To provide an advanced level of practice that ensures appropriate services are provided to meet client needs within the department’s statutory obligations and departmental policies and procedures.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Education/Qualifications
Essential: Approved qualification in Social Work, and SSSC registration.
Those with international Social Work qualifications should not apply unless they are fully registered with the SSSC.
Desirable: Post qualifying award

Driving Licence
Full current driving licence and access to a vehicle*
(*Where a disability precludes you from obtaining a driving licence, ELC will take into account its responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to allow for your disability).

PVG Membership
This post is considered as a Regulated Role with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living out with the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link:
www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form. If, for example, due to a disability, you are unable to complete the on-line application form you can contact us for a paper application via the telephone number or email address above.