Social Worker Senior Practitioner - Kinship Team in Gateshead, Tyne And Wear

Job Title: Social Worker Senior Practitioner – Kinship Team
Specialism: Social Worker – Children
Location: Gateshead, UK
Salary: £31.74 per hour
Type: Ongoing, Part Time / Full Time

Social Worker Senior Practitioner within the Kinship Team in Gateshead, earning £31.74 per hour. This ongoing locum opportunity offers both part-time and full-time flexibility, providing an excellent chance to join Gateshead's highly regarded Children's Services. Working within the Kinship Team, you will play a key role in supporting kinship carers and ensuring children can remain safely within their extended family networks wherever possible. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a lasting difference while developing your career within a supportive and forward-thinking local authority.

Perks and benefits

• Part Time / Full Time: Choose a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and promotes a healthy work-life balance.
• Hourly Pay: Earn a competitive rate of £31.74 per hour, rewarding your expertise and commitment.
• Hybrid Working: Enjoy the flexibility of working both remotely and from the office, helping to balance professional and personal commitments.
• Professional Networking: Work alongside experienced professionals within a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Career Development: Access continuous professional development opportunities and support to enhance your skills and career progression.
• Supportive Culture: Be part of a service that values staff wellbeing, innovation, and high-quality social work practice.
• Meaningful Impact: Help children achieve stability and permanence through effective kinship care arrangements.

What you will do

• Kinship Assessments: Complete high-quality assessments of kinship carers and prospective kinship care arrangements.
• Support Planning: Develop comprehensive support packages that meet the needs of children and carers.
• Permanency Planning: Work with extended family members and friends to promote stability, permanence, and positive outcomes for children.
• Safeguarding: Apply your safeguarding expertise to make informed decisions in line with legislation, policy, and best practice.
• Relationship Building: Develop strong working relationships with children, families, carers, and professional partners.
• Multi-Agency Working: Collaborate effectively with health, education, legal services, and other partner agencies to provide coordinated support.
• Case Management: Manage complex cases and ensure all statutory responsibilities and timescales are met.
• Practice Leadership: Support colleagues through mentoring, guidance, and the promotion of high-quality practice.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive case records and assessments.
• Child-Centred Practice: Promote strengths-based, relationship-focused interventions that improve outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Social Work Qualification: Degree in Social Work or equivalent recognised qualification.
• Registration: Current Social Work England registration.
• Experience: Significant post-qualification experience within Children's Social Care.
• Kinship Care Knowledge: Experience of assessing kinship carers, connected carers, or fostering arrangements is highly desirable.
• Safeguarding Expertise: Strong understanding of child protection, safeguarding legislation, and statutory guidance.
• Assessment Skills: Proven ability to complete high-quality assessments and formulate effective support plans.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership Skills: Ability to support, mentor, and guide colleagues within a team environment.

Why Gateshead

Gateshead offers an outstanding quality of life, combining vibrant urban living with beautiful countryside, cultural attractions, and strong community values. Home to iconic landmarks, excellent local amenities, and award-winning cultural venues, Gateshead provides a welcoming and inspiring environment for both professional and personal growth. With a strong commitment to supporting social workers and fostering career progression, Gateshead is a fantastic place to develop your career within Children's Services.

Working with Sanctuary Personnel

Sanctuary Personnel is a trusted and award-winning agency for roles. With an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot from over 1,000 reviews and many prestigious industry awards, we are dedicated to finding you the best possible rates in roles that match your skills and experience.

Apply now

Take the next step in your social work career and join the Kinship Team in Gateshead with Sanctuary Personnel.