Senior Practitioner – Adolescent Social Worker

Senior Practitioner – Adolescent Social Worker – Kent County Council

Rate: Up to £42 per hour
Location: Kent - Thanet
Contract: Locum
Working Pattern: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

Sheldon Phillips is seeking an experienced Senior Practitioner Social Worker to join the Adolescent Service in Kent County Council on a locum basis. This role offers the opportunity to work within a specialist service supporting young people facing complex safeguarding concerns such as exploitation, missing episodes, and contextual risks. A hybrid working model is in place, with 3 days per week in the office.

The Adolescent Service plays a pivotal role in ensuring vulnerable young people receive timely and effective interventions. This position is ideal for an experienced social worker looking to step into a senior role, providing practice leadership and case oversight in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Hold a reduced caseload of complex adolescent safeguarding cases.

  • Provide practice support and mentoring to less experienced social workers.

  • Lead on risk management and care planning for young people at risk of exploitation.

  • Work closely with multi-agency partners, including education, health, and police, to deliver coordinated interventions.

  • Champion the voice of young people in all aspects of case planning and service delivery.

Requirements:

  • Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration.

  • Substantial experience in statutory children’s services, particularly adolescent or safeguarding teams.

  • Strong knowledge of contextual safeguarding and adolescent risk factors.

  • Excellent communication, leadership, and decision-making skills.

  • Enhanced DBS check and full right to work in the UK.

Benefits of This Role:

  • Competitive pay rate of up to £42 per hour.

  • Flexible hybrid model with 3 days per week in the office.

  • Opportunity to join a well-established adolescent safeguarding service.

  • Supportive working culture and ongoing development opportunities.

For more details or to apply, contact

Fred Thomas – 07595 414 227 or email fthomas@sheldon-phillips.com.