Lead Practitioner Adults (Grade J) in Bootle, Sefton

Job Opportunity: Lead Practitioner – Adult Social Care

Location: Merseyside
Pay Rate: £53.02 per hour (Umbrella)
Council: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Department: Adult Social Care
Grade: J (SCP 42–46)

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Lead Practitioner – Adult Social Care to join Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in Merseyside.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or Registered Nurse with a strong background in statutory adult social care, safeguarding and complex case management to take on a senior leadership and practice development role.

You will support Team Managers in leading and developing the service, ensuring high-quality assessments, personalised support plans and effective safeguarding arrangements that deliver positive outcomes for vulnerable adults.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership, guidance and support to qualified and unqualified team members.
• Support the Team Manager with the day-to-day management and development of the service.
• Manage complex and specialist caseloads, undertaking high-quality assessments and support planning.
• Ensure compliance with adult safeguarding legislation, statutory duties and local procedures.
• Undertake safeguarding enquiries and manage risks involving vulnerable adults.
• Promote person-centred, strengths-based and outcome-focused practice.
• Provide supervision, mentoring and professional development to staff, including ASYE Social Workers and students.
• Support complex decision-making through professional challenge, critical reflection and risk analysis.
• Work collaboratively with health and social care professionals and external partner agencies.
• Prepare high-quality reports, including court statements, and represent the service at court hearings where required.
• Monitor team performance, workload allocation and effective use of resources.
• Deputise for the Team Manager in their absence.
• Contribute to service development, quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work, Occupational Therapy or Nursing.
• Current professional registration with the relevant regulatory body, including HCPC where applicable.
• Significant post-qualifying experience within statutory Adult Social Care.
• Strong experience managing complex adult social care cases.
• Experience working within multi-agency environments.
• Experience supervising qualified and unqualified social care professionals.
• Experience working within a court environment and preparing reports.
• Strong knowledge of adult safeguarding legislation and procedures.

Essential Skills

• Advanced assessment, care planning and risk management skills.
• Strong leadership, supervision and mentoring abilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex workloads.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Experience promoting person-centred and outcome-focused practice.
• Good IT skills, including experience using Integrated Adults System (IAS).
• Commitment to equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

What's on Offer?

£53.02 per hour (Umbrella).

Senior leadership opportunity within Adult Social Care.

Opportunity to influence service delivery and improve outcomes for vulnerable adults.

A varied and challenging role within an established local authority service.

Opportunity to mentor, supervise and develop other practitioners.

Involvement in service development and continuous improvement.

Additional Requirements

Enhanced DBS clearance.

Ability to meet the requirements of a casual car user role.

Flexibility to contribute to the Out of Hours Service where required.

Mandatory: Must have a UK Passport or a Full Right to Work in the UK 

Interested?

If you are an experienced Adult Social Care professional with strong leadership, safeguarding and complex case management experience, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today to be considered for this exciting Lead Practitioner opportunity in Merseyside!

For more information, contact Natasha Haddon.