BHSCT_Senior social work practitioner, Enhanced Family Support Service, Band 7

Advertised role location: Belfast HSCT
Official document: Together for Families - SSWP Band 7 25 September 2026 jd_ new jd (docx)
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Senior Social Work Practitioner - Band 7
Together for Families Gateway – Enhanced Family Support Service
Job Description

Senior Social Work Practitioner - Band 7
Together for Families Gateway – Enhanced Family Support Service
Job Description

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND: Senior Social Work Practitioner Enhanced Family Support Service – Band 7

DEPARTMENT/DIRECTORATE: Together for Families – Enhanced Family Support Service/Children & Families Directorate

LOCATION: Gateway Teams – Enhanced Family Support Service - Northern and Southern Sectors

REPORTS TO: Social Work Manager

DATE: September 2026

Notes to applicants:

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.













ESSENTIAL CRITERIA


SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration/
Experience
Degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work

Achieved or committed to achieving a specified NI PQ Framework award within an agreed timescale
Have Current Registration with one of the Social Care Regulatory Bodies in England, Scotland or Wales and be eligible to register with NISCC. In these circumstances applicants must be able to demonstrate at interview they will be in a position to register with NISCC should they be offered a Post with the Trust by providing evidence of their current Registration. Before taking up appointment, applicants must have secured Registration with NISCC on the Social Work Part of the Register.
Minimum 3 years' post-qualifying experience working with children and families.
Experience of safeguarding and risk assessment.
Experience of multi-agency working.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other
Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment.

This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.
Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities
Ability to provide practice consultation and professional advice.

Ability to support and mentor practitioners.

Ability to manage and analyse complex family situations and risk.

Ability to work effectively across disciplines and agencies.

Ability to facilitate reflective practice and learning.

Ability to work in a computer literate environment.
Interview

Knowledge
Knowledge of Family and Child Care legislation.

Knowledge of multi-agency working and family support interventions.

Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures.

Knowledge of thresholds, risk assessment and decision-making processes.

Knowledge of current issues affecting children, young people and families.

Interview

DESIRABLE CRITERIA


SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor
Criteria
Method of Assessment

Knowledge/Qualification/Skills
Post-qualifying award in Social Work.

Knowledge of Signs of Safety.

Knowledge of trauma-informed practice.

Experience of service improvement or transformation programmes.

Experience of working within early intervention/family support services.
Interview

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies to be effective in this demanding leadership role. The competencies concerned are set out in the NHS Healthcare Leadership Model, details of which can be found at http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/healthcare-leadership-model.
Particular attention will be given to the following dimensions:
Inspiring shared purpose
Leading with care
Connecting our service
Engaging the team
Developing capability
Influencing for results

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

“The successful candidate can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AFC Pay on Promotion will apply.”

“Are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance”.
Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Senior Social Work Practitioner Together for Families – Enhanced Family Support Service This is a permanent position initially in the Together for Families programme.

BAND

DIRECTORATE

INITIAL LOCATION

Band 7

Children & Families

Gateway Teams – Enhanced Family Support
Service - Northern and Southern Sectors

REPORTS TO

Social Work Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO

Director of Children & Families

FLEXIBLE WORKING PROVISIONS AVAILABLE

Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking


TOGETHER FOR FAMILIES PROGRAMME - ENHANCED FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE
The independent review of Children's Social Care Services identified the need for a fundamental rebalancing of the system away from a predominantly reactive model and towards one that prioritises prevention, early intervention and timely family support. Together for Families (TFF) is one of the Department's strategic response to this challenge: a regionally coordinated programme designed to transform how services are provided by investing earlier, strengthening the continuum of support available to children, young people and families, intervening more effectively, and building stronger VCSE neighbourhood-based support pathways where a family’s entry point into the system is consistent and all of those providing their care are working jointly and more seamlessly.

The Enhanced Family Support Service is a new tier of provision within the Together for Families model, supporting families whose needs exceed what universal and Family Support Hub provision can ordinarily offer, but who do not meet the threshold for statutory social care intervention, broadly, the higher end of Level 2 on the Hardiker Framework of Need. This includes families experiencing emerging complexity relating to the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACES), parenting capacity, school attendance, emotional wellbeing, domestic abuse, parental mental health, addiction, neurodiversity, and wider family relationships including challenges in co-parenting.
This service will be delivered by the VCSE sector in partnership with the HSC Trusts, through 15 locality-based services across Northern Ireland. Each locality service will consist of a multidisciplinary team led by a Team Leader and practitioners with a range of specialist skill sets including: domestic abuse, parental mental health, neurodiversity, co-parenting, education support, youth work and addiction. There will also be the opportunity to add additional skill sets to the service depending on the need in that locality. Services are delivered primarily in families' homes and in community settings, in service premises and at times that suit families, including evenings and, where necessary, weekends.

THE ENHANCED FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE OBJECTIVES
The service is designed to:
Strengthen early intervention capacity and neighbourhood capability through sustainable, partnership-led delivery models;
Address the “Missing Middle” support for families whose needs sit between targeted family support and statutory intervention;
Reduce escalation and prevent avoidable progression to crisis;
Reduce unnecessary entry and re-entry into statutory services;
Locality-based family support infrastructure across the region;
Improve outcomes in child wellbeing, ACES, parenting capacity, family resilience and system-wide effectiveness; and
Generate regional learning to inform future commissioning decisions.



JOB SUMMARY
This is a permanent Senior Social Work Practitioner Position, initially working in the Together for Families Team. The Senior Social Work Practitioner will be primarily responsible for the direct provision of quality social work services to children and families. They will have a key role within the Enhanced Family Support service in providing practice advice and informal supervision; safeguarding oversight on casework, complex case consultation; reflective practice facilitation; practitioner development for the Enhanced Family Support Team. The Manager for the Enhanced Family Support Service will meet on a daily basis with the Trust Senior Practitioner to discuss appropriate incoming referrals, liaise with Gateway, Step up and Step down referrals and any ongoing practice/Assessments or Safeguarding issues.
Such responsibilities will include the ability to demonstrate enhanced levels of practice, competence/skills in areas such as safeguarding thresholds/risks, direct practice with children and families, multi-agency working, user and carer involvement, knowledge of organisational systems and processes and the wider social policy context. The post holder will be expected to provide support and advice to other Gateway team members. The Senior Practitioner will also be expected to attend to his/her professional development through training, supervision and learning.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct practice with children and families
Engage in direct practice with children and families including, where appropriate, co-working with other practitioners within the Enhanced Service
If necessary, participate/advise on Child Protection and Looked After Children processes.
Engage with service users and carers to promote participation.
Facilitate, where necessary, network meetings to develop action plans with families.
Work with ‘Our Pact’ principles

Facilitation, consultation and practice development
Provide support and advice to others in relation to their practice and professional development and may include supervision of family support staff or mentoring staff undertaking assessed year in employment.
Access and participate in, as appropriate, research and other developmental activity relevant to improving standards of practice.
Participate in the development of evidence-based practice within child care practice.
Contribute to the learning and development of others as required.
Promote high standards of Social Work practice.
Engage with other agencies such as The National Community Lottery Fund to evaluate services and further develop practice.
Engage in training/workshops in areas such as Outcomes Star, Togetherness, Signs of Safety and Trauma-Informed Practice or any other areas identified in supervision.
Governance and reporting responsibility
Liaise with relevant statutory, voluntary and independent sector organisations.
Maintain clear records of work undertaken.
Participate in professional supervision process with Social Work Manager .
Contribute to the development and delivery of the organisation’s governance framework, audit schedules and quality and service improvements agenda.
Contribute to reviews of organisational policies and procedures relating to services to children and families.
Contribute to needs assessment and service development.
Continuous professional development
Maintain a high level of professional self-development through training, supervision, learning and research.

General Management Responsibilities
The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with ‘Your right to raise a concern (Whistleblowing)’ policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
Ensure the appropriate governance and risk management arrangements are in place for the services you are responsible for and take appropriate action to identify and manage risk and to maintain safety of users, staff and others in accordance with relevant regulations, policies and procedures.
It is essential to ensure that the highest standards of infection prevention and control are maintained to ensure patient and client safety and maintain confidence in the Trust.
Promote a culture of continuous service improvement amongst your staff, encouraging their participation and that of service users in reviewing and modernising current services and in service development.
Communicate effectively with staff and maintain productive working relationships amongst your staff and with others.
Promote a culture of learning and development and facilitate arrangements for and participate in training and development of staff as agreed for the performance of their duties. Where training is in accordance with relevant standards make sure you have the relevant competences in order to carry out this responsibility.
Take responsibility for ensuring appropriate standards of environmental cleanliness and for encouraging staff to maintain standards in their work area. Have an awareness of environmental issues and take appropriate action, for example to ensure the efficient use of energy and other resources, recycling etc.
Awareness of Trust policies regarding the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and Records Management and that they must not disclose, withhold, retain or dispose of any information unless legally authorised.

General Requirements
The post holder will be required to:
Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.
Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.
Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example:
Smoke Free policy
IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct
standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour
Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.
Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.
All employees of the WHSCT are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the WHSCT including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the WHSCT policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.
Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.
Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.
The HSC Code of conduct sets out the standards of conduct expected of all staff in the Western Health & Social Care Trust and presents standards of conduct and behaviours required during and after employment with the Trust. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.
Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).
Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further
information.
http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf
Employees must at all times abide by Trust policies and procedures and the terms of their contract of employment. They must conduct themselves with impartiality, integrity, objectivity and honesty and maintain high standards of personal and professional accountability.
Employees are expected to demonstrate commitment to the Trust by ensuring regular attendance at work and efficient completion of duties.
Employees must ensure that they comply with any risk management responsibilities specific to their post, and as set out in the Trust’s Risk Management Strategy.
The Trust is committed to the development and implementation of systems under Integrated Governance to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of services provided. Employees will be expected to co-operate and work with such systems.
All information concerning patients and staff must be held in the strictest confidence and may not be divulged to any unauthorized person.
Employees must ensure that equality and human rights issues are addressed within the post holder’s area of responsibility in accordance with the Trust’s Equality Scheme.
This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

September 2026
HSC Values

Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role.